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Beware of scams

Shopping, interacting and dealing with business on the internet is easier than ever before and we've all grown increasingly comfortable making purchases, decisions and more online. But are we doing so safely?

With the rise of digital technology and the increasing complexity of financial systems, it has become easier for scammers to exploit people.

Who do you trust? / Who should you not trust?

When a person or company approaches you, treat them with the same caution as you would if you were approached on the street by a stranger – you don’t know them so you can’t automatically trust them. You need to investigate and verify that they or their company is legitimate.

If you get a message about your finances, remember:

Think twice before opening that suspicious email. Suspicious emails can hide viruses or access your system, gaining potential valuable information like passwords and banking details. Arrange your emails with a reading pane so that you can see the content before opening. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

  1. Don’t automatically select links in emails or text messages. Firstly check spellings and names in the address of a website page (also known as a URL) to make sure they’re genuine.
  2. Contact companies directly using a known email or phone number to make sure their approach was genuine.
  3. Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. The email will be investigated by the National Cyber Security Centre.
  4. Forward suspicious texts to 7726 - it's free. This will report the message to your mobile phone provider.
  5. Never give remote access to your computer following an unsolicited call or text even if they say they’re from your provider.
Be wary when you're contacted out of the blue Beware of those who contact you unexpectedly, especially if they're promising financial gains or asking for personal information.

Did you know? It's illegal for companies to call you with pension offers out-of-the blue so these kinds of calls will never come from authorised companies or individuals.
Verify the source Before engaging with any financial services or products, verify that the company is legitimate.

Did you know? You can check that a financial services company is legitimate with the at Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
Protect your personal information Keep your information safe and improve your online security by using strong, unique passwords for each account.
Consider using a trusted password manager to help keep track of your passwords and usernames – don't write them down where they're easy to find.

Did you know? Legitimate organisations would never request sensitive data (like passwords) through email. They don’t need this information to access your account legitimately.
Recognise the warning signs If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be particularly cautious of deals that promise unusually high returns on investments or ways to get rich quick.

Did you know? Scammers often employ high-pressure tactics, urging you to act quickly or confidentially. Take your time to evaluate any financial decisions.

Get in touch with us. You can check the communication against others you've received from us in the past, or search for them online if you want to verify them for yourself.

Equiniti, our administrators, will not call you unless you have asked to be called back. If you do call, you'll be asked for some personal information:

  • Your name
  • Date of birth
  • National Insurance number
  • Home address

This information is needed to make sure that they locate the correct record. Equiniti will never ask for any bank details, including your PIN, to locate your record.

Together, we can prevent scammers so that other people don't fall victim

If you pick up on a scam: