Cold-calling is currently by far the most common method used to initiate pension fraud. Other scam tactics include:

• Unexpected contact about a pension via phone, post or email
• Promises of guaranteed high returns and downplaying the risks
• Offering unusual or overseas investments that are not regulated by the FCA, such as overseas hotels, forestry and green energy schemes
• Putting people under pressure to make a quick decision, for example with time-limited offers and sending a courier round with paperwork to sign
• Claiming to be able to unlock money from an individual’s pension (normally only possible from age 55)

We recommend you reject unexpected pension offers – whether made online, on social media, through the post or over the phone. Contact us if this happens and after running through security we will endeavour to help.