Spotting signs of fraud
We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our partners and customers, which is why we work tirelessly to prevent fraud. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance and guidance on next steps.
We will never contact you via email asking you to invest or for immediate payment transfers, and we do not work with dealers who are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
For added peace of mind, customers can check if a dealer is Financial Conduct Authority registered here.
Here are some resources that can help you learn more about spotting and reporting criminal activities:
Cyber Aware
The UK government's Cyber Aware programme has advice on how to stay safe online.
Click here to access their website
Action Fraud
If you have been scammed, defrauded, or experienced cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you should report it to the UK's national reporting centre Action Fraud.
Click here to access their website
Thinkuknow
The education programme from the National Crime Agency Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command, Thinkuknow, protects children both online and offline from digital dangers.
Click here to access their website
Cifas
An organisation dedicated to fighting economic crime and providing fraud prevention solutions and tools for businesses. They offer services such as personal data requests, protective registrations, fraud and scam advice, and resources for training and development of staff.
Click here to access their website
Do's and dont's
- Don’t be afraid to hang up on a caller that you are suspicious of. You can always call them back on a number that you know to be genuine.
- If you receive a call from someone putting you under pressure to move your money to a “safe account", STOP! Put the phone down and call your bank on a number that you know to be genuine to report it.
- Don’t trust a telephone number displayed on your phone. It’s very easy for criminals to change the caller ID.
- If someone asks you to download software that enables them to “support you” or gain remote access to your computer, say no and log off. Only a criminal will persist in trying to gain access.
- Do be cautious when making a payment, always make sure that the beneficiary name matches the name on the bank account.
- Think twice before clicking on links that ask you to input personal or financial information.
- Public Wi-Fi is not secure, you should avoid logging on to your bank using public Wi-Fi.
- Only give your personal or financial information out to services you have consented to and are expecting to be contacted by.
- Take extra care or avoid clicking on adverts within your social media feeds. If there is a celebrity endorsement for an investment, it is most likely to be a scam.
- Pease ensure that you research a company and take independent financial advice from a company that you have sourced yourself before you invest any money or provide them with your personal or financial information.
- Remember, if something seems too good to be true then it always is. Beware of high returns and low risk offers.
- Sometimes criminals will try to pressure you into investing and they may promise high immediate returns if you do. This is a huge concern and only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Please say no, take time to gain expert, independent advice and check out the company against the FCA watchlist.
- If you meet someone online or maybe in a person very few times, never send them any money. If you feel conflicted by this, talk to friends and family. Criminals use a range of tactics including emotional blackmail to get you to part with your money.
- If you meet someone online, consider whether the person and the photograph are genuine. Criminals often use fake or stolen images as their profile picture. Try and search for the image elsewhere, use a reverse image search online to establish if a picture has been taken from elsewhere.
Coercion
Coercion (coercive control) is a criminal offence in the UK and carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine.
This may happen if a victim suffers serious alarm or distress that impacts on their day-to-day activities, or if they fear violence will be used.
Criminals may use these tactics on victims who feel afraid to say no, maybe to taking out a credit agreement on the criminal’s behalf or by transferring money to them or for them.
If you see or are a victim of coercive control please report it to the police.