Scam prevention

Scammers can set up websites pretending to be established companies like Elson Associates with the intention of getting customers or investors to part with their hard-earned cash. These fake websites generally look the same, but the URL address will be slightly different to that of the company they are mimicking.

What to watch out for:

• Fake websites that look like our website or another company's website.
• Weak or repeated passwords.
• Web addresses that are not secure.
• Online viruses.

What to do:

• When visiting Elson Associates' website, make sure the address you go to is https://www.elsonassociates.com. Beware of fake websites i.e www.elson-associates.com, www.elsonassociates.something.com. Always make sure the address reads 'elsonassociates.com', words before or after this are ok i.e. https://www.invest.elsonassociates.com or https://www.elsonassociates.com/invest.
• Always use a unique password for every website you log into. If you have the same password for multiple online accounts and one of these companies are hacked, they could use your password on your Elson Associates account (or other accounts, including your Bank) and log in pretending to be you. Also, make your passwords strong and hard to guess. Don't choose memorable dates or words as these are easy for someone to guess. Make sure your passwords are at least 8 characters long, a mixture of letters, numbers and if applicable, special characters i.e. Htx9(q6R].
• Secure websites should always start with https:// - the 's' stands for 'secure'. You should also look out for a padlock symbol next to the web address (in the address bar of the browser) - but don't trust a padlock on the actual webpage.
• Stay virus-free. Make sure you have anti-virus software installed on your computer to protect it from viruses. Also take the time to install the built-in security measures that most internet browsers offer.
• If you are uncertain that you are on our website or a website you are visiting, contact us or the relevant company and verify the website address.

You may receive emails pretending to be Elson Associates or companies you deal with regularly. Just because an email appears to come from someone you know doesn't mean it's safe. Always take note of the tone and context of a message to avoid getting scammed.

What to watch out for:

• Emails trying to tempt you with fraudulent offers.
• Emails asking you for account details.
• Emails asking you to click on links.
• Emails asking you to open attachments.

What to do:

• Check it's Elson Associates sending the email. An example of the sender's address will be something like 'info@elsonassociates.com' or 'john.smith@elsonassociates.com' but should always end with '@elsonassociates.com'. Occasionally, we use a company called 'Constant Contact' (www.constantcontact.com) to send marketing or information emails to you.
• Elson Associates will never ask you to purchase an investment or buy shares. We may occasionally send out a marketing email of a product that may be of interest to you. You can always check the email has come from us if you are unsure by calling us on freephone 0800 096111 or by contacting us here.
• Elson Associates, Bank/Building Societies or Investment Companies will never ask you directly for usernames, passwords or PIN numbers so never reply to an email with these details.
• Always check any links contained in emails by hovering over the link and verify the address. If you are unsure about the address, do not click the link.
• Only open attachments from people or companies you know. Attachments are usually only sent if you are expecting them or have requested them. If Elson Associates send you an attachment, this will have been scanned for viruses before sending and will always come with a message so you know what is attached.
• If you are unsure about any email, contact the sender directly to verify the email.

Since phone numbers are so easy to acquire, cybercriminals have been using them for decades to scam people out of money and personal information. Some attacks will even connect you to a live scammer who will attempt to impersonate legitimate organizations.

What to watch out for:

• Be wary of uninvited or unexpected calls.
• Calls supposedly from your bank or the police about fraudulent use of your bank cards or bank account.
• Pushy sales calls or investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.
• Be wary of any cold calls or texts from strange numbers offering products or services, such as pension or debt management.
• Calls that seem to be genuine because the caller has information about you.

What to do:

• Say no. Ignore a caller that asks you for personal information such as your PIN or tells you that your computer has a virus. Elson Associates will only ever ask you to confirm your details (Name and Address) and will never ask for PIN numbers or passwords.
• Check the line. Be aware that scammers can keep your phone line open even after you've hung up.
• Call us using a different phone. If you get a phone call and are unsure it is/was us, contact Elson Associates directly via email (info@elsonassociates.com), website (www.elsonassociates.com/contact) or phone number (0800 0961111) to check the call is legitimate.

Postal scams are sent by post and may be addressed to you directly by name. They contain fake claims or offers that are designed to con you out of your money. It's not always easy to control what people send you, but you can control your response. They are getting more sophisticated and it can be difficult to spot the difference between scam mail, junk mail and offers from legitimate companies.

What to watch out for:

• Bills or invoices from companies you don't use.
• Letters congratulating you on winning a cash prize.
• Letters asking you to buy a product or call a premium-rate phone number to claim your winnings.

What to do:

• If you receive a bill or invoice from a company and you're not sure if you have an account with them, find their details online and contact them. Don't use any contact information that's listed on the bill or invoice, as it could also be fake.
• If you receive a letter you think is a scam, ignore it and throw it away. Never reply. Always contact us if you're unsure whether a letter is from Elson Associates or not.
• Elson Associates run competitions for our clients which usually involve a cash prize. If you are lucky enough to win one of these competitions we will always call you first to congratulate you. Prizes are always in the form of a cheque made out to you personally and posted to your address and we will never ask for any money or bank account details in relation to any competitions or prizes.
• Don't call any premium-rate phone lines. These numbers start with 09 and calls can cost up to £4 per minute. We will never ask you to call a number. Occasionally, we may list an investment company's phone number for an investment you may hold with them asking you to contact them regarding your investment. If you are unsure about this, either call us or find the investment company's phone number online and call them.
• If you receive any correspondence from Elson Associates via post, it will always be on our headed paper which includes our registered address (Elson Associates plc, 5 Queen Street, Kings Hill, West Mailling, Kent, ME19 4DA), phone number (01732 433433), email address (info@elsonassociates.com), website (https://www.elsonassociates.com) and registered company number (3595128). All of these details can be verified online if you have any doubt.

There are many ways that scammers persuade people to part with their pension - from promising investment opportunities that are simply too good to be true, to giving false information. They may contact you several times and could even have details of any previous investments you've made.

What to watch out for:

• Cold calls about your pension.
• Companies that offer a 'loan', 'savings advance' or 'cashback' from your pension or talk about new investment techniques.
• Offers of a 'loan', 'savings advance' or 'cashback' from your pension or about new investment techniques. Along with investments in stocks and shares in wine, jewellery, carbon credits or land, with rates of return that seem too good to be true, or pressure you to act quickly.
• Offers of 'pension reviews' or new ways to get hold of your pension income before the age of 55 in exchange for a fee, for example by transferring your savings to a different scheme.

What to do:

• If you're contacted and offered investments or access to your pension, don't feel rushed or pressured to respond. If you feel pressured or if the caller won't take no for an answer, end the conversation. Don't be embarrassed to put the phone down. Elson Associates advertise and promote certain investments that we feel may be of interest. We will not pressure you or advise you to invest in a particular product.
• Always seek advice before making investment decisions. Although Elson Associates does not offer advice, we can provide you with valuable tools and personalised information helping you make decisions about your investment strategy.
• Think about foreign fraud, be wary of dealing with companies based overseas. They could be located there to avoid important regulatory requirements. Elson Associates are a UK company and Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, our company number is 3595128.
• As part of the 'Consumer Duty' and 'Treating Customers Fairly' rules, Elson Associates will only ever contact you - regarding your investments - to keep you informed of their value and performance, if there is an issue with them or we feel there is a better deal for you, and you can save money. We will never ask you to invest or to alter your investments in any way.

If you would like more informatin regarding cyber security or how to better protect yourself against all types of attacks below are some websites that offer free impartial help & advice to help you.

ScamSmart

The Financial Conduct Authority provides information to help you avoid investment and pensions scams.

https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

Get Safe Online

The Government sponsored Get Safe Online can give you free expert advice on protecting yourself, your devices and more.

https://www.getsafeonline.org

NCSC

The National Cyber Security Centre are the UK's independent authority on cyber security.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk

Which?

Offering independent advice. Which? have been championing consumer rights since 1957.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-a-scam