19/11/2025
Are you being (pension) scammed?
Anyone can be the victim of a pension scam, no matter how financially savvy they think they are. Scammers are using ever more elaborate tricks To fool people so it's important to look out for the warning signs.
We examine how to stay one step ahead of the scammers, and protect your financial security in retirement.
Pension scams have risen sharply in the last 12 months, causing some savers concerns about the long-term security of their pensions.
Anybody can fall for a scam, but there are some red flag behaviours and terminology that can be a sign of scammers at work.
If you have any misgivings about an email, text or social media message regarding your pension, do not transfer any money. Get in touch with your financial adviser and report a suspected scam to ActionFraud immediately.
Last year, financial fraud and scam complaints hit their highest level ever, according to the Financial Ombudsman1. The statistics surrounding pension scams are particularly chilling.
According to ActionFraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for cybercrime and fraud, an estimated £17.7 million of pension funds was fraudulently accessed between 2023 and 2024.2 The average loss per person was almost £47,000. However, The Pensions Regulator reports that fewer than one in five victims report the crime.
The statistics are an alarming wake-up call, according to Gaucho Rasmussen, Executive Director of Regulatory Compliance at The Pensions Regulator. “Fraudsters are ruthless, using fake investment deals and impersonation scams or ‘cloning’ to exploit vulnerabilities.
We urge every saver to ‘stop, think and check’ to protect their pension as if their future depends on it - because it does.”
How to spot a pension scam
https://www.cameronjonesfm.com/article/detail/sjpp/are-you-being-pension-scammed.html