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There are many different types of investment fraud. They usually
involve criminals contacting people out of the blue and convincing them to
invest in schemes or products that are worthless or do not exist. Once the
criminals have received payment, they cease contact with the victim. We
have seen an increase in investment fraud reports which are linked to gold,
diamonds, art work, property overseas and crypto currency. Some fraudsters
are even using celebrity images to endorse their schemes in order to get
more people to sign up.
Tips for when
you are looking to invest
1: Don’t be
rushed into making an investment
Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into
investing on the spot.
2: Seek
impartial advice before investing
Before making significant financial decisions, speak with trusted
friends or family members, or seek professional independent advice.
3: Check if the
company is regulated by the FCA
Use the Financial
Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated
by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that isn’t regulated,
you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things
go wrong and you lose your money.
For more information about how to invest safely, please visit: https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart
How to report
fraud
If you think you have been a victim of a scam, do not feel ashamed or
embarrassed - you are not alone. Contact your bank immediately and report
it to Action Fraud on 0300
123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk.
Useful Links
Gloucestershire Constabulary Website - Fraud PROTECT
Get Safe Online Website - GetSafeOnline "Check a Website" tool
Take Five To Stop Fraud Websire - TAKE FIVE |
