Currencies Direct - scam?

What_time_is_it

Hi.
We are using Currencies Direct for the first time. We are transferring Euros from a bank in Germany, ultimately to an account in the UK. 
Currencies Direct gave us their banking details for us to give to the bank in Germany. But the bank in Germany have flagged it as being a possible scam, saying that another German bank had raised it as being a potential fraud.

The bank details Currencies Direct gave us to use for the transaction is for a Barclays (Ireland) account in France. IBAN number ending in 5010122.
Has anyone else used this service to transfer Euros to the UK?
Are the bank details legit?

Thanks.

marcia_

 If the bank have advised it is possibly fraudulent avoid it. 

Ebe_Scrooge

Hmmm, tricky.  There is a company called Currencies Direct registered with the FCA: https://register.fca.org.uk/s/search?q=currencies direct&type=Companies

And, the registration number on their website matches with what's on the FCA register.  So, as far as it goes, they're legit.  However, assuming you're dealing with a kosher German bank, I'd be inclined to trust their advice.  Is it possible you've managed to find your way to a spoof website - someone claiming to be Currencies Direct but actually they're a scammer, and not the real company?

If you do a bit of Googling with the full IBAN number they gave you, you should be able to get a decent idea of whether you're dealing with the right company.

Daliah

Currencies Direct, in some incarnation, might be legit but they don't appear amongst the best currency transfer companies on https://www.monito.com/send-money/germany/united-kingdom/eur/gbp/1000/?mode=live

You would probably do better with wise.com (highly recommended) or Currencyfair.

Or, if you are a UK resident, you could open a Euro account at Starling Bank and transfer your money directly to your Starling IBAN, from where you can then move it to a Starling GBP account.

What_time_is_it

Daliah said:

Currencies Direct, in some incarnation, might be legit but they don't appear amongst the best currency transfer companies on https://www.monito.com/send-money/germany/united-kingdom/eur/gbp/1000/?mode=live

You would probably do better with wise.com (highly recommended) or Currencyfair.

Or, if you are a UK resident, you could open a Euro account at Starling Bank and transfer your money directly to your Starling IBAN, from where you can then move it to a Starling GBP account.

Thanks.
For larger amounts Currencies Direct usually come out in the top 2 or 3.