FCA issues warning after investment scams cost savers £78m during 2020

'Clone' investments firms on the rise

James Baxter-Derrington
clock • 2 min read

More than £78m was stolen from investors over the course of 2020 as clone investment firm scams took advantage of pandemic-induced financial worries, according to new data from Action Fraud.

The increased prevalence of these scams has led the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to issue a warning to investors as part of its ScamSmart campaign. April 2020 saw a month-on-month increase of 29% in these types of scams as the UK entered its first full month of lockdown. Quilter takes action as impersonation scams continue to rise Two out of five investors (42%) say they are "currently worried" about their finances due to the pandemic, while three-quarters (77%) either have or plan to make an investment over the coming six months to help improve their financial situation. T...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on Regulation

Former London Capital & Finance director handed £31,800 fine

Former London Capital & Finance director handed £31,800 fine

Floris Jakobus Huisamen

Hope Coumbe
clock 13 February 2024 • 2 min read
Ratings provider Fairer Finance launches fair value assessment tool

Ratings provider Fairer Finance launches fair value assessment tool

To help firms meet Consumer Duty standards

Valeria Martinez
clock 13 February 2024 • 1 min read
Global investors warn FCA's listings reform will regress shareholder protections

Global investors warn FCA's listings reform will regress shareholder protections

Representing $77trn AUM

Cristian Angeloni
clock 09 February 2024 • 3 min read
Trustpilot