For Paul Birch. For every whistleblower they tried to silence.
They say justice is blind. But in Paul’s case, the FCA didn’t just close its eyes—it looked the other way.
Paul Birch is not a footnote. He’s not an isolated case. He’s a British citizen who played by the rules—who asked for protection and got bureaucracy. Who exposed wrongdoing and got stonewalled. Who trusted the regulator to act on a crime and got a template letter in return.
On 2 June 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority confirmed—in writing to a Member of Parliament—that it has done nothing for over a decade to pursue those who scammed Paul out of his pension. Nothing.
Let that sink in.
⚠️ A Criminal Offence, Ignored
Paul was living in the UK when he was advised by another UK citizen posing as FCA-authorised. That alone is a criminal act under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Section 19. No wriggle room. No legal grey area.
When someone impersonates an FCA-authorised adviser to scam a UK resident inside the UK? The regulator usually calls it what it is: fraud. A criminal offence. They launch enforcement. Freeze assets. Take names.
But not this time.
Why? Because Paul refused to go quietly. Because he asked too many questions. Because he sent too many emails. And when truth becomes inconvenient, the regulator doesn’t double down—it shuts down.
Instead of protection, Paul got punished. His emails were diverted. His voice sidelined. His pursuit of justice labelled “excessive.” They didn’t just fail him. They silenced him.
🧱 The Great Wall of Excuses
The FCA’s letter to Becky Gittins MP is a masterclass in how to not regulate:
“The adviser was not authorised by the FCA.”
“He appeared to be based overseas.”
“We advised Mr Birch to contact the Maltese authorities.”
Translation?
“Not our problem.”
But let’s be clear: the fraud was UK-based. The adviser was UK-based. Paul was UK-based. The deception involved falsely claiming FCA authorisation—inside the UK. This wasn’t an offshore quirk. This was domestic crime, happening under the FCA’s nose.
Let’s talk about 6 Water Street, Liverpool—because that address isn’t just bricks and mortar. It’s the ground zero of a financial crime scene. Liverpool isn’t overseas! That’s where John Maurice Pye operated when he lured victims like Paul Birch into pension scams dressed up as advice. It appears time and time again in case files, letters, and transfer documents—a glowing red flag waving in full view of the authorities. And yet? No raid. No red tape. No regulator. Just silence. How many victims had to walk through that door before someone in power decided to act? The truth is chilling: they saw the pattern and did nothing.
And their response?
Boilerplate brush-offs and jurisdictional gymnastics.
🗣️ Silence Isn’t Neutral. It’s a Strategy.
This isn’t just incompetence. It’s a deliberate regulatory strategy. When a case is too politically sensitive—too revealing of institutional rot—they pull down the shutters. They deflect. Delay. Deny.
And all the while?
Victims like Paul are left to fight alone.
To burn out.
To be buried by the weight of silence.
🔥 But Paul Didn’t Back Down
Paul did what they hoped he wouldn’t.
He kept writing.
Kept asking.
Kept pushing.
And now, we have their reply.
Written proof that the regulator responsible for policing unauthorised financial advice simply chose not to act.
Not because they couldn’t.
But because they wouldn’t.
💡 What Does This Mean for You?
It means if you’ve been scammed—if you’ve been misled by someone pretending to be authorised—you cannot assume the regulator will protect you. You must protect yourself.
And that’s why we created the Get SAFE Citizen Investigator’s Playbook. A roadmap for every victim they try to bury. A way to fight back with facts, with clarity, with community.
Because the truth is this:
- The regulators aren’t here to protect you.
- They’re here to protect the system.
- And the system is designed to exhaust you before it ever delivers justice.
But you have a choice.
💥 Reclaim the Power They Stole
Don’t go quietly.
Don’t accept excuses.
Don’t get lost in the smoke.
Paul’s case isn’t a one-off. It’s a signal flare—a warning to every citizen that oversight has become optional and accountability is a PR strategy.
We will not let that stand.
🛡️ What Now?
📢 Share this story. Make it impossible to ignore.
📁 Read the FCA’s letter. See the failure in their own words.
🧭 Start your own investigation. Use the Playbook.
🗣️ Speak up. Because silence only helps the abuser.
🔚 Final Word
Paul Birch isn’t chasing compensation. He’s demanding accountability.
And in doing so, he’s exposing the rigged architecture of UK financial regulation—where criminals walk free, and truth-tellers are cast as troublemakers.
But the tide is turning.
Because the more they try to hide, the louder we get.
And we’re just getting started.
Your Money or Your Life.
Don’t let them steal either.
About Get SAFE
Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation) was born from a simple truth: too many victims of financial abuse are left to suffer in silence.
We exist in memory of Ian Davis—for the ones who did everything right, only to be failed by the systems they trusted. We know that behind every vanished pension, every ignored complaint, and every stonewalled letter is a person—frightened, exhausted, and too often alone.
Get SAFE offers more than sympathy. We offer structure, support, and solidarity.
We provide a voice where there’s been silence, and clarity where there’s been confusion.
We stand beside those who have been exploited, not just to help them recover—but to help them reclaim their story and rebuild their future.
Because financial justice is not a luxury.
It’s a human right.
If you or someone you know has been affected by financial exploitation, we are here.
You are not alone.
Learn more at: Get SAFE (Support After Financial Exploitation).
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