Be vigilant and scam smart

28th July 2020

There have been warnings from several UK bodies, including the Bank of England, National Crime Agency, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) urging people to be vigilant. The warnings are aimed, in particular, at those who may have lost their jobs or are under financial pressure and may be tempted by scammers.

Millions affected

Over five million people in the UK have fallen victim to, or know someone who has been duped by, a financial scam since the beginning of the virus outbreak.

The most common financial scams relate to banking, accounting for 60% of victims, followed by 35% being targeted by an insurance scam. One in five reported having been targeted by a pension scam amid an increase in fraudsters offering free pension reviews.

Be a ScamSmart investor

The FCA has an online scam checker where you can check an investment or pension opportunity which can be found here: www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

Government advice

Government advice to protect yourself from fraud includes checking the company’s credentials via a reliable source such as the FCA’s Financial Services Register, being wary of deals that sound too good to be true, not clicking on links from unknown senders, not giving out personal details and seeking professional financial advice before making any decisions. The official advice can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/news/bevigilant-against-coronavirus-scams

Guidance in uncertain times

Anxiety and financial pressure can make us more vulnerable to fraud, so if you are unsure about any financial opportunities, please contact us. We’re here to keep you and your finances safe during this period of uncertainty.

The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. The past is not a guide to future performance and past performance may not necessarily be repeated.