(Repeats Wednesday's story with no changes to text)
* FCA issues 43 warnings of 'cloned' firms or products in
2020
* Cloned firm warnings rose 20 percent in 2019 - FCA
Spokesman
* Natixis, Aviva and Redhedge hit since start of year
By Maiya Keidan
LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Some of London's top hedge funds
and asset managers are among those that have been targeted by
rogue internet operators who clone their names and websites in
an attempt to part unsuspecting investors from their cash.
The high number of warnings from leading regulator the FCA
-- roughly one a day so far this year -- underscores the concern
in the sector over sham internet sites.
Although few individuals are known to have fallen for the
fakes so far, Winton and Algebris, backed by two of Europe's
most prominent investors and targeted in recent weeks, are among
the highest profile names to be hit as the scammers grow bolder.
The regulator has warned that fraudsters typically use the
name of a genuine firm, launching a website with a similar
design to the original.
It warned about cloned sites of Algebris UK, founded by
Italian investor Davide Serra, and Winton Group, set up by
British billionaire David Harding, in January and February
respectively.
The cases came to light as the British government, which is
considering new legislation to tackle rogue online operators, on
Wednesday said it could appoint telecoms regulator Ofcom to
police the sector.
Winton complained to the FCA after a website called
wintonfinance.com was set up, according to one person familiar
with the matter. That website is no longer active.
In a separate incident, a video described as an interview
between Winton founder Harding and Bitsmax, which on its website
describes itself as a UK certified investment platform for
cryptocurrencies, was posted on YouTube on December 26 via an
account carrying Bitsmax's name. Reuters couldn't confirm who
owned the account.
The video was, in fact, of Harding talking at an investment
conference, said the person familiar with the matter.
Bitsmax could not be reached for comment.
The video was online until Monday when a spokesman for
YouTube owner Google said the video had been removed
after it was contacted by Reuters.
The source close to Winton said the firm had previously
spent weeks trying to get the video removed. The spokesman for
Google declined to comment further.
The FCA issued a warning against Bitsmax on Tuesday. Winton
had already on Feb. 5 posted a warning to its clients via its
website about Bitsmax claiming false association to the firm and
its founder, following a more general warning on Twitter on Feb.
3.
INCREASINGLY COMMON
The FCA has issued a further 40 warnings about cloned sites
so far this year, compared with 365 last year, 303 in 2018 and
111 in 2017.
Among those it warned about last month were unauthorised
firms purporting to be affiliated with Natixis Investment
Managers, Aviva Investors Global Services and Redhedge Asset
Management.
"The cloning of websites and other online scams has become
increasingly common in the financial services industry," a
spokesman for Aviva told Reuters.
In Aviva's case, the spokesman said a cloned website calling
itself www.avibonds.com was using the background from Aviva
Investors' real website.
Aviva and Redhedge said no clients or individuals had lost
money, while Natixis said "members of the public may be victims"
when they issued a warning on their website on Dec. 10 - 28 days
before the FCA issued an alert.
Winton and Algebris declined to comment on whether investors
had lost money.
"We regularly check for cloned companies like this, and
maintain an ongoing dialogue with the regulator, where
appropriate," said Andrea Seminara, CEO and CIO at Redhedge.
The asset manager's Chief Operating Officer Eloise Lipkin
said the FCA had issued an alert about the company Redhedge
Investments within 48 hours of their complaint.
A spokesman for the regulator said, however, that it had no
control over content shared via Google, and nor did any other
agency.
(Reporting by Maiya Keidan; editing by John O'Donnell and
Kirsten Donovan)