The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has brought criminal charges against John Burford for allegedly carrying on unauthorised regulated activity and dishonestly misleading investors, with suspected proceeds of over GBP 1m. The FCA alleges that between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2023 he accepted money from more than 100 investors and advised and managed investments without authorisation. Mr Burford was the sole director of Financial Trading Strategies Limited and, via its website, promoted paid subscription services providing daily trade alerts and investments in three “Tramline” funds. The FCA alleges he repeatedly misrepresented the funds’ value and the amount of money he had lost while trading. The prosecution covers alleged breaches of sections 19 and 23(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and section 993(1) of the Companies Act 2006. Mr Burford is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 23 May 2025. The FCA noted the case took 23 months from opening in May 2023 to bringing criminal charges, compared with an average of 42 months for cases closed in 2023/24.
Financial Conduct Authority 2025-04-14
Financial Conduct Authority charges John Burford with unauthorised investment business and misleading more than 100 investors
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has charged John Burford with conducting unauthorised regulated activity and misleading investors, involving over GBP 1 million. Burford, as director of Financial Trading Strategies Limited, allegedly misrepresented investment values and losses through subscription services. The charges relate to breaches of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the Companies Act 2006.