Don't fall for a pension scam

The end-goal of scammers is to persuade you to transfer your pension savings to a place where they can get their hands on your cash. They don’t care who you are or that their scam could ruin your life, so be alert to the warning signs. Be wary of companies that contact you out of the blue, such as cold-calls, emails or texts, no matter how trustworthy or official they seem. Remember, don’t be rushed or pressured into making any decisions about your pension. Once a scammer has your money, it can be impossible to get it back. So, avoiding the scam entirely is your best form of defence against these threats.

Some things to watch out for

If you’re contacted out of the blue about a pension opportunity, it may be a scam. Pension cold calling is illegal, and you should be very wary. An offer of a free pension review from a firm you’ve not dealt with before is a warning sign of a scam.

What to do

We recommend that you seek authorised financial advice before making any pension decisions. Visit our guidance and financial advice page for more detail. You could also check out MoneyHelper, the government-backed service that provides free, independent and impartial information and guidance. Check out the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ScamSmart resources and check their register of regulated advisers to make sure anyone offering you advice is authorised. If they are, check they’re allowed to give pension advice, by calling the FCA helpline on 0800 111 6768, where you can also report suspected scammers. You can also find out more about keeping your pension safe from scammers on The Pensions Regulator’s dedicated page.

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Published: 12 January 2023