Trust Financial Planning

A summary of what happened?

Trust Financial Planning operates the website trust-financial-planning.com, presenting itself as a legitimate financial advisory firm. However, multiple sources have raised significant concerns regarding its authenticity and business practices.

Regulatory Warnings:

• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Warning: The UK’s FCA has issued a warning stating that trust-financial-planning.com is not authorized or registered by the FCA but has been targeting people in the UK, falsely claiming to be an authorized firm.
  Financial Conduct Authority

Client Complaints and Reviews:

• Scamadviser.com: The website has a low trust score, with numerous negative reviews indicating potential fraudulent activities.
• Sitejabber: Trust Financial Planning holds a 3.2-star rating based on 24 reviews, ws reporting issues such as difficulties in withdrawing funds and unresponsive customer service.
  SiteJabber

Analyst Evaluations:

• The Forex Review: An analysis revealed that trust-financial-planning.com falsely claims to be a reputable UK-based broker. The website lacks transparency, with no clear information about its ownership or licensing, suggesting it may be a fraudulent entity.

Inclusion in Blacklists:

• Vklader.com: Trust Financial Planning has been added to the blacklist of brokers on Vklader.com, a platform that warns users about fraudulenes.

Summary of Major Concerns:

• Unauthorized Operations: The firm operates without necessary regulatory approvals, falsely claiming legitimacy.
• **Client Fund Issues:*Numerous reports indicate clients face challenges in withdrawing funds, with some alleging complete loss of investments.
• Lack of Transparency: The company’s website provides minimal information about its operations, ownership, and licensing, raising red flags about its legitimacy.

Given these concerns, potential investors are strongly advised to exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence before engaging with Trust Financial Planning.

Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)

Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.

What was Trust Financial Planning trying to hide?

Trust Financial Planning‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Trust Financial Planning in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Trust Financial Planning may be trying to remove from the internet –

In-depth Investigative Report: Trust Financial Planning – A Comprehensive Examination of Allegations, Complaints, and Red Flags

Overview of Trust Financial Planning

Trust Financial Planning, accessible via the website trust-financial-planning.com, presents itself as a financial advisory and brokerage service, purportedly offering investment opportunities, wealth management solutions, and financial planning services. The company claims to operate out of the United Kingdom and presents a veneer of legitimacy through a professional-looking website. However, extensive analysis and widespread complaints paint a troubling picture of potential fraud, deceptive practices, and regulatory violations.

1. Regulatory Violations and Warnings

1.1 Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Warning: The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a stern warning against Trust Financial Planning, stating that the firm is not authorized to operate or provide financial services in the UK. This means the company is engaging in financial activities illegally, as financial advisory services in the UK require stringent adherence to regulatory guidelines and FCA licensing.

The FCA has highlighted that Trust Financial Planning may be a “clone” company—using the name, logo, or credentials of a legitimate firm to deceive investors. The FCA urges potential clients to verify the legitimacy of any firm claiming to be authorized via its online register.

2. Client Experiences: Complaints and Allegations

2.1 Issues with Fund Withdrawals: A recurring theme in customer complaints involves difficulties in withdrawing funds. Many clients report that after depositing money, they were unable to retrieve their funds despite multiple requests. In some cases, the company allegedly imposed arbitrary “processing fees” or “tax payments” that had to be paid upfront before withdrawals could be processed. Once these fees were paid, clients state that communication ceased entirely.

2.2 Fraudulent Practices and High-Pressure Tactics: Clients also allege high-pressure sales tactics used to coerce them into investing larger sums. These tactics include persistent calls from “account managers,” promises of guaranteed returns, and the use of fear tactics about market conditions to push for immediate action.

2.3 Fake Testimonials and Reviews: Several investigative reports indicate that many of the testimonials and positive reviews displayed on the company’s website or associated platforms appear fabricated. Fake profiles, stock images, and unverifiable claims are reportedly used to lure potential investors.

3. Detailed Analysis by Review Platforms

3.1 Scamadviser Analysis: Scamadviser.com assigns Trust Financial Planning a low trust score, citing suspicious activities and high-risk indicators. These include:

• The use of a newly registered domain, often a hallmark of scam operations.
• Hidden ownership details and lack of a verifiable physical office.
• Numerous complaints from users worldwide about the inability to recover investments.

3.2 The Forex Review Investigation: The Forex Review conducted an in-depth analysis of Trust Financial Planning and labeled the company a potential scam. Key findings include:

• False claims of UK registration and regulation.
• A lack of any credible or verifiable information about the company’s leadership or financial backers.
• The absence of clear terms and conditions or user agreements, a red flag in the financial sector.

3.3 Inclusion in Vklader.com’s Blacklist: Trust Financial Planning has been blacklisted by Vklader.com, a platform that tracks fraudulent brokers. The site’s inclusion is based on widespread reports of unethical practices, client fund misappropriation, and regulatory violations.

4. Common Patterns of Malpractice

• Untraceable Operations: The company has no physical address or verifiable contact information listed, making it nearly impossible for clients to trace its operations or hold it accountable.
• Use of Sophisticated Scamming Techniques: Clients report that the firm’s representatives employ polished language, well-crafted communication, and persuasive techniques to build trust. This façade quickly crumbles once funds are transferred.
• Absence of Investor Protections: As an unregulated entity, Trust Financial Planning provides no protections for investors. There are no guarantees, insurance, or recourse mechanisms in case of financial loss, which regulated firms are required to offer.

5. Potential Legal Implications

5.1 Fraud Allegations: The actions reported by clients—such as withholding withdrawals, fabricating fees, and unresponsive communication—are consistent with allegations of financial fraud.

5.2 Regulatory Sanctions: If the company continues to operate without authorization, regulatory bodies such as the FCA may escalate actions, potentially pursuing criminal charges against those behind the operation.

5.3 Legal Recourse for Victims: Clients who have lost money may have limited options due to the company’s unregulated nature. Legal experts recommend filing complaints with financial authorities, engaging legal counsel, and, in some cases, using fund recovery services.

6. Red Flags Highlighted by Experts

• Lack of Transparency: The absence of credible information about the company’s ownership and operations is a major red flag.
• Unregulated Status: Operating without proper licensing makes Trust Financial Planning a high-risk entity.
• Negative Customer Feedback: An overwhelming number of complaints and negative reviews further erode trust.
• Cloned Firm Warning: If proven, operating as a clone company constitutes severe financial misconduct.

7. Recommendations and Precautions

• Avoid Engagement: Prospective investors are advised to avoid dealings with Trust Financial Planning entirely. The risks far outweigh any potential benefits.
• Report Suspicious Activity: Victims should report their experiences to financial regulators in their jurisdiction.
• Use Regulated Brokers: Always verify the credentials of financial service providers via official regulatory databases.
• Seek Recovery Assistance: Specialized recovery services may help retrieve funds lost to fraudulent schemes.

Conclusion

Trust Financial Planning exhibits nearly all characteristics of a fraudulent operation. The evidence, including client testimonies, regulatory warnings, and expert analyses, highlights significant risks associated with engaging this entity. For investors, the best course of action is to stay vigilant, avoid high-pressure sales pitches, and prioritize dealing with licensed, reputable financial institutions.

How do we counteract this malpractice?

Once we ascertain the involvement of Trust Financial Planning (or actors working on behalf of Trust Financial Planning), we will inform Trust Financial Planning of our findings via Electronic Mail.

Our preliminary assessment suggests that Trust Financial Planning may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Trust Financial Planning, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Trust Financial Planning to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.

Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –

Since Trust Financial Planning made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally

We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Trust Financial Planning is finding out the hard way.

Potential Consequences for Trust Financial Planning

Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.

Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.

Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.”  Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).

Is Trust Financial Planning Committing a Cyber Crime?

Yes, it seems so. Trust Financial Planning used multiple approaches to remove unwanted material from review sites and Google’s search results. Thanks to protections allowing freedom of speech in the United States, there are very few legal ways to do this. Trust Financial Planning could not eliminate negative reviews or search results that linked to them without a valid claim of defamation, copyright infringement, or some other clear breach of the law.

Faced with these limitations, some companies like Trust Financial Planning have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Trust Financial Planning is certainly keeping interesting company here….

The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.

Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.

Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi

The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.

Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.

As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Trust Financial Planning creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.

The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.

The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.

In committing numerous offences, Trust Financial Planning either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Trust Financial Planning, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.

Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.

The Reputation Laundering

Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.

The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.

In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.

This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.

Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Trust Financial Planning is in great company ….

What else is Trust Financial Planning hiding?

We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Trust Financial Planning] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)

To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Trust Financial Planning that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].

All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.