I have recently been made aware that one or more individuals are impersonating me in order to promote cryptocurrency investment scams, including schemes referencing Bitcoin and other digital assets. These individuals are using both the name I commonly go by, Tom Brookes, and my full legal name, Thomas James Brookes. They are also referencing my firm (Arboretum Financial Planning) , my network (ValidPath Limited) and my regulatory status as shown on the Financial Conduct Authority Register. The fact that my full legal name and regulatory details are being used strongly suggests that information has been taken from the public FCA Register in order to create a false appearance of legitimacy.

This appears to be a case of adviser impersonation and cloned firm fraud, where scammers misuse the identity of a regulated financial adviser to promote high-risk or fraudulent investments. In this instance, the activity appears to be global rather than limited to the United Kingdom.

For the avoidance of doubt: I do not provide cryptocurrency advice. I do not advise on Bitcoin, Ethereum, crypto trading platforms, crypto mining schemes, NFT investments, tokenised assets, decentralised finance, or any other form of digital currency or blockchain-based investment. I do not promote “guaranteed returns”, offshore crypto funds, leveraged crypto trading accounts, or managed crypto portfolios. I do not provide financial advice outside of the United Kingdom.

Arboretum Financial Planning is a UK-based, FCA-regulated financial planning firm. My advice is limited to regulated financial planning and investment advice within the UK framework. I do not cold-call, I do not send unsolicited WhatsApp messages, Telegram messages, Instagram DMs, Facebook messages, or emails promoting cryptocurrency opportunities, and I do not approach individuals online offering Bitcoin investment strategies or crypto wealth-building programmes. Any communication claiming that I am involved in cryptocurrency trading, Bitcoin investment schemes, or international crypto opportunities is fraudulent.

If you have been contacted by someone claiming to be me in relation to Bitcoin investment, cryptocurrency trading, or digital asset opportunities, you should assume it is a scam unless you have independently verified the contact. The only legitimate way to contact me is through the official Arboretum Financial Planning website using the published contact details, or via my verified LinkedIn profile (link). If you are unsure whether a communication is genuine, please forward the details via the Arboretum website contact form so that I can review the information and report it to the Financial Conduct Authority and other relevant authorities. Do not transfer funds, provide copies of passports or driving licences, share one-time passcodes, or give remote access to your devices.

If you believe you have been targeted by a cryptocurrency scam, Bitcoin scam, cloned firm fraud, or investment fraud using my name, you should report the matter immediately to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime. You should also review the FCA’s ScamSmart warnings via the Financial Conduct Authority website to check whether a firm has been listed as a clone or unauthorised business. Guidance on phishing emails, spoofed websites, social media impersonation, and online fraud can also be found through the National Cyber Security Centre. If you are located outside the UK, you should contact your local financial regulator, securities commission, or national fraud reporting authority.

This situation is being treated with the utmost seriousness. All known examples of impersonation, cryptocurrency scam activity, and cloned firm misuse are being reported to the Financial Conduct Authority. Protecting clients and the wider public from investment fraud, Bitcoin scams, and online financial crime is fundamental to my professional obligations. Any attempt to misuse my name, my firm, or my FCA regulatory status to facilitate cryptocurrency fraud will be pursued through the appropriate regulatory and legal channels.

If you have any information that may assist, or if you have been contacted by someone claiming to be Tom Brookes or Thomas James Brookes in relation to Bitcoin, cryptocurrency investment, or digital asset trading, please contact me directly via the official Arboretum Financial Planning website so that appropriate action can be taken.