‘Clone’ fund crooks who targeted pensioner

R.B. writes: On January 22, I received a call from Keystone Investment Trust of Moorfields in London regarding an investment I held in land. It offered £16,300 for this, subject to a fee of £3,750 to be paid on February 19. Later, it asked for a further £2,200 and I paid both sums and was told the £16,300 would reach my bank account on February 26. When the money did not arrive, I called Keystone and was told a further payment was required. I said I was not prepared to pay, and now realise it was a scam. I am 87 and should have known better. were never in touch with the real Keystone Investment Trust. This is a genuine investment fund. But you were called by a ‘clone’ run by fraudsters whose tu pa fake website at keystone investments trust. com. Note the extra letter ‘s’ that turns ‘investment’ into ‘investments’ and makes sure you see the fake website.

I contacted the real Keystone which is part of investment giant Invesco Perpetual. It told me it was well aware of the scam. It said: ‘We have taken appropriate steps and continue to report to the enforcing authorities.’

Those bodies are the Financial Conduct Authority and the policerun Action Fraud. Despite this, when I rang the fake firm last Thursday on 0207 129 7316, it was still in business. Sadly, whoever answered hung up as soon as I gave my name, so I was not able to ask how it felt about stealing thousands of pounds from a pensioner. That is one mystery but the bigger puzzle is why the thieves are allowed to carry on stealing.