Search

Search

Has someone contacted you offering to buy your shares at a high rate, or offer you protection in case your shares lose value after a takeover?

Sounds like a share scam.

 

What are share scams?

Fraudulent 'investment specialists' - both individuals and organisations - are trying all sorts of ways to target shareholders of UK companies.

They may contact you by telephone, email or letter.

Fraudsters may:

• say that Standard Life shares are about to 'sell out' and pressure you to buy more shares
• claim a hostile takeover is about to happen and will leave your shares worthless - but they will buy your shares or offer you insurance protection
• offer to buy your shares at a very high rate
• send you forms asking for money upfront as a bond or another form of security
• ask for your bank details or other personal information

Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for it, protect yourself with these helpful tips.

---

Watch out for

• High-pressure cold calls - it is illegal to sell people shares over the phone
• Websites - fraudsters can easily create professional sites and they may not be all they appear to be
• Forms asking for information about your shareholding or asking you to sign up to a confidentiality agreement
• Any offer that sounds too good to be true - like discounted shares or shares that are ‘guaranteed' to double or treble in value. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

---

How you can protect yourself

• Find out more - there are links to some useful websites below
• If callers are persistent, just hang up - don't worry about being rude
• Never be pressured into a decision because something is 'selling out fast'
• Get the full name of the organisation - ask callers to spell it
• Check whether they are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) by visiting www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams
• If they are not, report them to the FCA by calling 0800 111 6768. You can also report them just for cold-calling you.

---

Be safer with a nominee account

Fraudsters often target shareholders by getting their name and details from a company's share register. Holding your shares in a nominee can protect your privacy.

You can transfer your Standard Life plc shares into the company sponsored nominee account - the Standard Life Share Account (SLSA) - by contacting your local Shareholder Services team. Or you can get in touch with your broker to find out about their nominee services.

Remember - If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you have no protection. The average amount lost by investors in 2006 was around £20,000*.

* Source FSA/ICSA boiler room scams leaflet May 2010.

NOTE ELECTRONIC VERSIONS OF THE MATERIALS YOU ARE SEEKING TO ACCESS ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE ON THIS WEBSITE BY STANDARD LIFE PLC IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.

Please read this notice, and the other linked notices, carefully as they apply to all persons who view this site. Please note that the disclaimer set out below may be altered or updated. You should read it in full each time you visit the site.

Overseas Persons

Viewing this information may not be lawful in certain jurisdictions. In other jurisdictions only certain categories of person may be allowed to view this information. If you are not permitted to view materials on this website or are in any doubt as to whether you are permitted to view these materials, please exit this webpage.

Basis of access

Access to electronic versions of these materials is being made available on this website by Standard Life plc in good faith and for information purposes only. No representation is made as to completeness and accuracy. Any person seeking access to Standard Life plc's website represents and warrants to Standard Life plc that they are doing so for information purposes only. Standard Life reserves the right to add, modify or delete information on this site at any time. You may not create a link to this website from another website or document without Standard Life's prior written consent.

© 2013 Standard Life

Standard Life plc, registered in Scotland (SC286832), Standard Life House, 30 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH1 2DH. Telephone +44 (0)131 225 2552. Calls may be monitored and/or recorded to protect both you and us and help with our training. Call charges will vary.