There is a very simple check to be performed, go to the who is website and type the url of the suspected boiler room.
You will got the location of the server, the IP, not all services are free but the reverse IP is.
Ask for the reverse IP and you will get all the websites which have been using the same IP
Using this example,
http://whois.domaintools.com/shaw-capital.com
the IP has used three names, all three boiler rooms, and the server is in Malaysia while the company address is in Korea.
fishercapitalmanagement.com
shaw-capital.com
strathclydeassociates.net
Try the 3 websites and you will quickly understand they are all the same.
You have to know that their names, address, telephone are all fake.
Even a nice looking brochure can be a total fraud.
go to
http://www.shaw-capital.com and check contact or download the brochure.
The building on the brochure has nothing to do with the address, this can be easily checked by Google street views or photo. It is a complete scam, all names , photos, locations, telephone numbers are fake.
The names are always chosen so that there are millions of occurrence, Ted Kennedy, Kevin Smith, John Stewart or Michal Miles.
The company names do bear some similarities with existing ones to generate confusion.
They will pressure you to get an immediate answer, which you must never give. A serious company is obliged to give you time to consider.
Check the fsa listing of unauthorized firms
http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/Doing/Regulated/Law/Alerts/overseas.shtml
Finally, never ever accept any business from a cold call.
Reputable firms do not use this kind of tactics, simply because it would be a waste of time and money.
I got so many of these calls in SE Asia that I enjoy keeping them on the phone for an hour at least, so that they waste a maximum of time. I finish by asking them if they liked the performance of Vin Diesel in boiler room, some of their tactics are direct quote from the movie.