Use this page if you're concerned that a business-for-sale listing, a seller, a buyer, a broker, an enquiry or a message on Buy a Business Ltd may be suspicious, misleading, fake or unsafe.
Buy a Business Ltd may review reports and take platform action where appropriate. However, it is not a fraud investigation service, a police service, a law firm, a regulator or a dispute-resolution body. Where money has been lost, identity has been misused or a criminal offence may have occurred, you will also need to use official reporting routes — some of which are listed at the end of this page.
What You Can Report
The following types of concern can be reported to Buy a Business Ltd:
A listing that appears to be fake or for a business that doesn't exist
Listing content that appears to have been copied from another source
Images that appear to be stolen or used without permission
A seller who appears not to have authority to list the business
A broker or representative who cannot confirm their instruction
Financial claims that appear misleading or impossible to support
An asking price that appears unrealistically low and designed to attract enquiries under false pretences
Pressure to pay money quickly without adequate information or written terms
Requests for unusual or unexpected payment methods
Bank details that changed suddenly after a process was underway
A buyer misusing confidential information received during an enquiry
A buyer contacting staff, customers or suppliers without the seller's consent
Abusive or threatening messages
Spam enquiries or people promoting unrelated services
Suspicious links or attachments sent during a conversation
Attempts to obtain passwords or system access
Listings involving prohibited business types
Unsafe or illegal content in a listing
How to Report
When contacting Buy a Business Ltd with a concern, include as much relevant information as you can. Useful detail includes:
The listing title and URL
The name of the seller or buyer as shown
The date and time the concern arose
Screenshots of the listing, messages or payment requests
Copies of relevant emails or messages
The email address or phone number involved
A clear explanation of why you are concerned
Payment request details if relevant
Whether money has been sent
Whether staff, customers or suppliers were contacted
Whether personal data was shared
Any company names or registration numbers involved
Don't include unnecessary personal data or sensitive documents unless they are directly relevant.
You can use the following structure when reporting:
Subject:Suspicious listing report — [Listing Title]
Listing title:Listing URL:Your name:Your email:Are you a buyer, seller, broker or other?Date/time of concern:What happened:[Explain clearly]Why you are concerned:[Explain the specific red flags]Has money been sent?[Yes/No]Has personal data been shared?[Yes/No]Evidence attached:[List screenshots, messages or documents]
What Buy a Business Ltd May Do
Depending on the nature and evidence of a report, Buy a Business Ltd may review the listing, contact the seller or buyer to request clarification, request evidence of authority or identity, pause the listing, remove the listing, restrict the account, block suspicious users, add warnings or disclaimers to the listing, preserve relevant platform information, decline to take action if the evidence is insufficient, or recommend official reporting routes.
The platform may not be able to share details of every action taken.
What Buy a Business Ltd Cannot Do
There are important limitations on what the platform can do:
It cannot guarantee recovery of money that has been sent
It cannot act as your solicitor or provide legal advice
It cannot investigate fraud in the way a police service would
It cannot verify every document involved in a transaction
It cannot force a buyer or seller to complete or to refund
It cannot resolve every private dispute between users
It cannot confirm whether a criminal offence has occurred
It cannot act as an escrow service or hold funds
It cannot reverse bank transfers
If money has been sent and you suspect fraud, you need to contact your bank and use official reporting routes immediately. Don't wait.
If You Have Already Sent Money
If you've sent money and now suspect something is wrong, act immediately:
Contact your bank and ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. Time matters.
Preserve all evidence — messages, emails, invoices and the bank details you were given. Do not delete anything.
Report the concern to Action Fraud or the relevant official body.
Report the listing or user to Buy a Business Ltd.
Speak to a solicitor if needed.
Do not send more money because someone pressures you to "unlock", "release", "verify" or "complete" a transaction. This is a common tactic used in fraud. Anyone pressuring you to send further payments to recover money you've already lost should be treated with extreme suspicion.
Official UK Reporting Routes
Suspicious emailsForward suspicious emails to `report@phishing.gov.uk`. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) reviews these reports and may investigate.
Suspicious text messagesForward suspicious texts to `7726`. This is a free service that reports the message directly to your mobile network provider.
Fraud and cyber crimeThe primary reporting route for fraud and cyber crime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is Action Fraud (via the Report Fraud service). In Scotland, report to Police Scotland via 101.
Checking companiesFor limited companies, Companies House allows you to check company status, registered address, directors and officers, filing history, charges, insolvency information and previous names. These checks are useful context but are not a substitute for full due diligence.
Suspicious Listing Red Flags
Slow down and investigate further if you encounter:
A price significantly below market value — this is a common bait tactic
A seller who cannot prove they have authority to sell
A broker who cannot produce their instruction from the seller
Listing content that appears copied from another listing or website
Images that look generic, stock-based or borrowed
A business name that doesn't match company or trading records
Financial figures that are vague, inconsistent or change between conversations
A seller who avoids standard identity or document checks
Requests for money before any substantive information has been shared
Urgency — pressure to move quickly without time to check
A buyer refusing basic identity or proof of funds checks
Bank details that change suddenly during the process
Communication moving to unusual channels (personal email, WhatsApp only, etc.)
Suspicious links or attachments
A story that keeps changing
Active discouragement of professional adviser involvement
If something feels wrong, it's worth treating it as wrong until it's been properly verified.
What to Preserve as Evidence
If you suspect a problem, preserve everything now — before anything can be deleted or changed:
Screenshots of the listing, including the URL
All emails, text messages and WhatsApp messages
Call logs (date, time, number)
Payment requests and invoices
Bank details you were provided
Company names, registration numbers and names used
Dates and times of all relevant contacts
Files or documents received
Any proof of money sent
Any proof of identity or personal data shared
Do not edit screenshots or documents. Preserve them exactly as they are.
What Not to Do
If you're in a suspicious situation, don't:
Send more money for any reason
Share passwords, bank logins or one-time codes
Send ID documents unless you are confident you know who you're dealing with
Click on links from unknown or suspicious sources
Download attachments from people you don't trust
Contact staff or customers based on information from a suspicious listing
Publicly accuse someone of fraud without clear evidence
Delete messages or communications
Continue with a process where you feel pressured or uncomfortable
Take a pause. Verify. Then decide.
A Final Word
Suspicion doesn't always mean fraud. Sometimes things look odd because of poor communication, a misunderstanding or an inexperienced seller. But suspicion should never simply be ignored.
If something feels wrong, slow down, verify independently through trusted channels, and report it if appropriate. The best time to raise a concern is before money changes hands — not after.
*Buy a Business Ltd is a marketplace, not a broker, corporate finance adviser, M&A adviser, law firm, accountant, tax adviser, lender, valuation firm, fraud investigation service or investment adviser. Information, rules, policies, guides, templates and examples on this site are for general guidance only and do not constitute legal, tax, financial, investment, lending, valuation, employment, data protection, brokerage, corporate finance, M&A, fraud, cyber-security or regulated advice. Buyers and sellers must carry out their own checks and seek independent professional advice before sharing sensitive information, paying money, signing documents or completing a transaction.*