Companies House Email Scam UK: How to Spot and Avoid Fake Official Emails
Criminals are sending fake Companies House emails to UK business owners demanding money or personal information — here's exactly how to tell if yours is a scam.
What is this scam?
The Companies House email scam targets UK business owners and directors with urgent-sounding messages claiming to be from the official government agency. Scammers pretend there's an outstanding bill, a filing deadline missed, or threaten that your company will be removed from the register unless you pay immediately. The emails look official and often reference your real company name and registration number, which makes them convincing. The goal is simple: trick you into paying a fake fee, or worse, into clicking a link and handing over passwords, director details, or bank information. Legitimate Companies House communication always directs you to their official website (companies-house.gov.uk) or your secure filing account. If you've received one of these emails demanding payment or claiming urgent action is needed, it's almost certainly a scam. Thousands of UK businesses receive these emails every month, and many fall for them because they're worried about their company status.
Warning signs to look for
- The email demands immediate payment by bank transfer, card, or unusual payment method — Companies House does not demand urgent payments by email.
- Generic greetings like 'Dear Sir/Madam' or 'Dear Business Owner' instead of your company's actual name or your personal name.
- Links in the email go to suspicious websites that look similar to companies-house.gov.uk but have slightly different URLs (like companies-house-renewal.co.uk or companieshouse-filing.com).
- The sender's email address doesn't end in @companieshouse.gov.uk — scammers use addresses like @companies-house-renewal.com or free email domains.
- The message threatens to strike your company off the register or suspend your filing rights unless you pay within hours or days.
- Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or awkward phrasing — official Companies House emails are professionally written.
- The email asks you to confirm or re-enter your director details, passwords, or company information via email or by clicking a link.
- It includes urgency language like 'URGENT ACTION REQUIRED' or 'FINAL NOTICE' to panic you into acting without thinking.
How this scam works step by step
The scam typically begins when you receive an email claiming to be from Companies House with a subject line about unpaid fees, overdue filings, or company removal. The email may reference your actual company name and registration number (information they've found from the public Companies House register), making it appear legitimate. It tells you that you owe a filing fee, annual return payment, or administrative charge, and demands you pay within 24 or 48 hours to avoid serious consequences. The scammer includes a link to what looks like a payment page, but it's actually a fake website they control. When you click the link and enter your card details or bank information, the scammers capture it. Alternatively, if the email asks you to 'verify your account' or 'update your director information,' clicking the link takes you to a phishing page where you enter passwords or personal data. Some versions ask you to reply by email with your bank details or card information to 'process the payment quickly.' Once scammers have your card details, passwords, or director information, they either use them to steal money directly or commit identity fraud. The whole process can happen in minutes, and by the time you realise it's a scam, funds may already be transferred or your company details compromised.
How to verify if it is genuine
If you receive an email claiming to be from Companies House, do not click any links in the email. Instead, open a new browser window and go directly to companies-house.gov.uk by typing the address yourself. Log in to your WebFiling account using the password you know (not any password from the suspicious email). Check your filing status and any outstanding payments there — this is the only reliable way to see if you actually owe anything. Genuine Companies House communications will always direct you to the official website or your secure account, never to a link in an email. You can also call Companies House directly on 0303 1234 500 (the legitimate phone number, not any number in the suspicious email) and ask whether you have any outstanding fees or required filings. Be wary of any email asking you to click a link to 'verify your account' or 'confirm your details' — Companies House will not ask you to do this via email. For more on spotting fake websites, read our guide: /guides/is-this-website-a-scam/. If the email is definitely suspicious, report it immediately to the NCSC before taking any action.
What to do if you have already interacted
If you clicked a link in the suspicious email but did not enter any information, the immediate risk is lower, but monitor your accounts closely for the next few weeks. If you entered your card details on a fake payment page, contact your bank immediately — call the number on the back of your card, never use a number from the scam email — and ask them to cancel the card and reverse any fraudulent charges. If you entered your Companies House WebFiling password, log into your real Companies House account right now and change your password to something completely new and strong. Then check your company's filing history and recent activity to see if anyone has made unauthorised changes. If you gave away director personal details (like your date of birth, National Insurance number, or address), be alert to identity fraud; consider registering with a credit monitoring service like Experian or Clearscore to watch for misuse. Do not send any money if the email is still asking you to pay — this is confirmation it's a scam. Finally, report the email to Action Fraud and the NCSC as soon as possible, even if you haven't lost money, so authorities can warn other businesses.
Reporting this scam in the UK
Report the email immediately to the NCSC Suspicious Email Reporting Service by forwarding it to report@phishing.gov.uk — include the full email header if possible. This alerts the UK's National Cyber Security Centre to take down fake websites and block similar emails. Next, report the scam to Action Fraud, the UK's national fraud reporting centre, by calling 0300 123 2040 (available 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday) or by visiting their online reporting form at actionfraud.police.uk. Provide as much detail as possible: the sender's email address, the website URL in the email, the date received, and any action you took. If you've lost money, also report it to your bank or card provider immediately — they may be able to block the transaction if it hasn't cleared yet. You can also report suspicious emails to Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 if you need guidance on your rights. Forward any SMS scams pretending to be from Companies House to 7726 (Phonepay). Keep a copy of the suspicious email and any evidence of payment or data you've shared — this helps authorities investigate and warn other businesses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Companies House a real organisation, or is it always a scam?
Companies House is a legitimate UK government agency that registers all limited companies, sole traders, and partnerships. However, scammers regularly impersonate them via email because it's a trusted name. If you receive an email from 'Companies House' demanding payment or asking you to verify details, it is almost certainly a scam — the real Companies House will never contact you by email asking for urgent payment or personal information. Always verify by going directly to companies-house.gov.uk or calling 0303 1234 500.
What should I do if I've already sent money to the scammers?
Contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card (not any number in the scam email) and tell them you've been defrauded. Ask them to freeze your account and attempt to recover the money — they may be able to stop the payment if it hasn't cleared, or retrieve it under fraud protection rules. Report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and provide your bank details and transaction reference. Your bank is legally required to investigate and may be able to recover funds within 10 days if you act quickly.
Can scammers really access my Companies House account if I give them my password?
Yes — if you've given away your WebFiling password in response to a suspicious email, you must change it immediately by logging into your real Companies House account on companies-house.gov.uk. Once they have your password, scammers can access your company information, file false documents, or change your registered address. Check your filing history right away to see if anyone has made unauthorised changes. If you find unauthorised activity, call Companies House on 0303 1234 500 to report it and ask them to suspend your account temporarily while you secure it.
How do I report a fake Companies House email?
Forward the suspicious email to report@phishing.gov.uk (the NCSC Suspicious Email Reporting Service) to get fake websites taken down. Then report the scam to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting actionfraud.police.uk — provide the sender's email address, the website URL mentioned in the email, and what happened. Keep a copy of the email as evidence. If you've lost money, also notify your bank immediately on the number on the back of your card.