Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can be hard to spot. If you're planning on investing, it's really important you follow our advice below to help protect yourself.
Beware of out of the blue contact offering investment opportunities, whether made online, on social media or over the phone. Be wary, even if you initiated contact.
Do not provide personal information or banking information to anyone that has contacted you out of the blue.
Any companies offering investments in the UK must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Check the details on the FCA register – register.fca.org.uk.
You can check an investment or pension opportunity you’ve been offered on the FCA Warning List - https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart.
Only use the telephone number and email address on the FCA Register, not the contact details the firm gives you. Look out for subtle differences.
Consider seeking independent financial advice before you commit to an investment. Do not take advice from the company that contacted you directly.
Don’t be lured in by adverts you see online or on social media — these can be fake. Carry out your own research and read reviews of the investment and the company.
If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Be wary of social media adverts: Crypto scammers often use social media to promote their fraudulent schemes.
If you have been a victim of a scam previously, please be aware of Fraud Recovery Scams. This is where criminals will offer to help recover the money an individual has lost to a scam, usually requesting an upfront fee.