May 18th 2024.
In hindsight, I realize that I should have been more cautious," Pauline reflects. She had just received a text from an unknown number, offering to transfer her old frozen pensions into a high-return investment with an immediate cash gift. Despite the unusual nature of the message, all she felt was relief. It seemed like a lifeline.
But looking back, she now knows that she should have been more careful. If only she had ignored the text and deleted it immediately, perhaps none of this would have happened. However, she trusted that she was doing the right thing. And that's how, in 2013, she had her entire pension of £45,000 stolen from her.
"I know what you're thinking," she acknowledges, "Why would you trust someone you don't know, promising you something that sounds too good to be true?" But it wasn't that simple. At the time, Pauline was under a lot of financial pressure. She was approaching her 50th birthday, working full-time as a nurse with the NHS, and raising three teenage children. On top of that, her parents were seriously ill. Her mother had recently been diagnosed with terminal heart failure, and her father had Alzheimer's.
So when she received a text offering an immediate cash bonus in exchange for transferring her pension pots, it seemed like an answer to her prayers. The extra money, which turned out to be £4,400, would allow her to take some time off work to care for her mother in her final weeks.
But as we all know, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is. In this case, it was a fraud. The company Pauline had invested in didn't even exist.
Before diving into the details, Pauline takes a moment to share some valuable advice on how to protect yourself from fraud. She explains that common tactics include impersonating an authority or using language that evokes powerful emotions, such as fear or hope. She urges people to be cautious and break contact if they feel at risk. And if you suspect fraud, report it immediately.
But back to Pauline's story. Convinced that she was dealing with a reputable company and enrolled in a genuine investment scheme, she transferred a second pension pot of £19,000. As promised, she received a cheque for £1,900. However, just a few weeks later, her mother passed away, and Pauline was left to care for her father and her children while organizing her mother's funeral.
Amidst all the chaos, she nearly forgot about the scheme and the money she had invested. But over a year later, she received a letter informing her that The Pensions Regulator had appointed professional trustees to take over her pension scheme. After an investigation, Pauline learned that the company she had invested in was a scam, and she had lost her entire pension of £45,000.
"I felt sick," she recalls. "I had worked as a nurse for 40 years, saving up for my family and my future retirement. And now, I had nothing." She felt ashamed and foolish for falling for the scam. The criminals had taken her money, her future, and her hope. She felt powerless, gripped by fear and anxiety.
But the worst part was telling her children what had happened. They asked her, "But what will you do when you retire?" And Pauline had to admit that she would have to work until she was physically unable to do so.
"I always thought I was too smart to be tricked," she says. "But no one is immune from fraud." As it turns out, Pauline wasn't the only victim of this scam. The scammers had stolen over £13 million from 245 other pensioners across the country.
Following the investigation, the Pensions Regulator began a civil and criminal prosecution against the scammers, who were both convicted of fraud and jailed in 2022. They were also ordered to repay the money they had stolen, with interest.
Pauline is currently waiting for compensation from the Government's Fraud Compensation Fund, but she's unsure of how much or when she will receive it. She admits that she's now a lot less trusting of people and wishes she had never responded to that text message. But she has to keep moving forward because if she stops working, she may not be able to survive.
Her advice to anyone considering transferring their pension is to stop and think. Don't respond to unsolicited messages, and do your research before making any financial decisions. Taking a few minutes to think things through can save your future.
In the end, Pauline emphasizes the importance of reporting any suspected scams and seeking help. She shares her story to raise awareness and help others avoid falling victim to fraud. And she hopes that by speaking out, she can help take back control from the criminals who took everything from her.
But as she concludes, "You never think it will happen to you. You always think you're too smart, too savvy. But no one is completely immune."
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