With the UK currently undergoing its transitionary departure from the European Union, it’s safe to say that many economic and political changes are soon going to be in store for the country. What’s more, is that fraudulent scammers are acting upon these changes and devising crafty ways of targeting people. From bogus Brexit investments to European Health Card scams, have a read of some of the ways in which you may become a victim of a scam in the Brexit years that lie ahead.
HMRC Brexit scams
The Internet certainly has a dark side, especially when we’re talking about scammers making fake websites to target people. There have been numerous cases of fraudsters trying to scam consumers through fake HM Revenue & Customs websites. This type of online scam is typically aimed at businesses that do trade deals with the EU and have been informed by the Government that they need to be certified with a ‘UK trader number’.
It is also important to know that this scam is not just restricted to the Internet itself. Scammers will use the HMRC name on all platforms, so be cautious if you do receive an email, text or phone call from an individual declaring that they’re from HMRC. The good news, however, is that it is easy to identify if you’ve been targeted by such a scam. This is because HMRC will never ask you to disclose your personal details on any platform. So, if you get asked for such information, do not engage at all costs.
Financial services scams
When it comes to Brexit and finances, the Government will ask companies in the financial services sector to get in touch with anyone likely to be affected by the UK’s departure from the European Union. For instance, if you’re an individual who gets their money from an EU-based company, you might experience issues when it comes to being paid. How you’ll be contacted as a customer will depend on where you are based, where your firm is based, and what regulatory authorisations are operated.
Scammers of today would know about this operation and would therefore not hesitate to play the role of a financial services provider when it comes to contacting individuals. A typical fraudster will ask you to provide them with your private details or pressure you to respond quickly. If any of these alarm bells ring, again do not engage. Better yet, contact your financial provider yourself to ensure that the communication that you’ve received is genuine.
Brexit investment scams
Whether we like to admit it or not, the topic of Brexit is huge and the UK’s departure from the European Union is bound to affect our lives one way or another. That being said, scammers will know that people may have concerns about Brexit and use this fear to their advantage. For instance, they may contact someone to suggest that making a new investment or modifying an existing one will help the Brexit process. One example that we’ve recently seen of this on the news are claims for a ‘Brexit severance cheque’.
If you do receive a call or an email that details an overly optimistic deal, then you’ve most likely been targeted. After all, no one is currently bound to know the future impact that Brexit will have for the country. Also, like with the other scams that are mentioned, never under any circumstance give out any personal details in such communications.
EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) scams
Now, if you are concerned about your travel rights following the Brexit transition process, this scam is certainly one to look out for. As you may already be aware, The European Health Card (EHIC) gives you the right to state-provided healthcare during your stay in another EEA country or Switzerland. Depending on how the UK leaves the European Union, there could be a chance that your EHIC card would no longer apply to you as a UK traveller.
Because of this uncertainty, scammers have made unofficial websites that charge people fees for EHIC cards. However, UK citizens are already currently entitled to get a free EHIC card and whether a fee will have to be paid for future cards has not yet been announced. In the meantime, if you are looking to get an EHIC card this year, visit the official Government or NHS website to view your options.
How we can help
At Expert Pension Claims, queries related to financial scams are what we deal with. Whether you’ve been a victim of pension mis-selling, investment mis-selling or have been mis-sold a SIPP, contact us today and our experienced team will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve.
Simply fill in our quick enquiry form or call us on 0161 968 0768. In the meantime, stay in touch with our blog to keep up to date with financial news and tips on how to not to fall for pension or investment scams.
