Fraud Awareness Films – 2. Izzy’s story

Nationwide research* carried out earlier this year has identified that people experiencing loneliness and isolation are four times more likely to fall victim of a scam.

As the fraudsters become more and more sophisticated, it pays to understand the type of situation that could lead to financial loss. By making yourself aware of how criminals operate and what to look out for, you can protect against the risk of fraud.

The video below is the second in a series of films that tells the story of the most common types of scams.

A recent survey of over 55s** has revealed that more than a fifth (22%) of those contacted by a suspected fraudulent investment firm don’t tell anyone about it, and that Brits are more likely to report fly-tipping (81%) than investment scams (63%). So it’s important to tell someone, like your building society or bank, if you think you have been targeted so that others can avoid the same fate.

To avoid falling victim to an investment scam, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) advises you to:

1. Reject unsolicited contact about investments.

2. Before investing, check the  (This link will open in a new window)FCA Register to see if the firm or individual you are dealing with is authorised and check the  (This link will open in a new window)FCA Warning List of firms to avoid.

3. Get impartial advice before investing.