Investment Scam Calls — Pension & Share Fraud

Investment scams target people with savings or pensions to invest. They typically begin with an unsolicited call about an exclusive opportunity that is "only available to a few clients", building rapport over several conversations before the ask. Pension-liberation scams aimed at the over-55s remain one of the most damaging categories.

Warning signs

• Unsolicited call about an "exclusive" investment opportunity.
• Promises of "guaranteed" returns or returns that beat the market consistently.
• Pressure to act before a "deadline" — IPO closes, share allocation runs out.
• Glossy PDFs and a website that has only existed for a few months.

Real-world scripts

• ""We're offering pre-IPO shares in a UK green-energy company at half the float price.""
• ""You can free up cash from your pension before 55 — let me set you up with our specialist team.""

If you receive this call

• Check the firm on the FCA Register (register.fca.org.uk).
• If pension-related, get free guidance from MoneyHelper or Pension Wise before doing anything.
• Report cold investment calls to the FCA and to Action Fraud.
• Add the calling number to GhostCallers.

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