Over £1bn is lost to investment fraud each year and the average loss per person is £20,000.
Criminals pressure people into buying investments that promise high returns, but in reality are either worthless or non-existent. The most common type of investment scam is share fraud, they may also offer investments in things such as gold, land abroad, carbon credits, diamonds, shares in hotels, fine wine etc.
If you deal with a scammer they will not be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and you may not have the right to complain or claim compensation.
Scams can be sophisticated and difficult to spot. Fraudsters can be articulate and appear financially knowledgeable. They may have credible websites, testimonials and materials that can be hard to distinguish from the real thing. So it’s important you know how to spot the warning signs.