In the Pension Life office, we have been wondering how to get the information about pension scams more widely seen, heard and taken on board. We’d like to ensure the masses are educated and aware that pension scammers can strike from many angles, and with a variety of “deals”. Pension scammers must be stopped and […]
Pension scammers must be stopped Read More »
In many pension scam cases, we find victims telling us that they were not informed about the hidden charges that were applied to their fund. This is why it is essential to warn the public about the hidden dangers of charges that ruin your pension investments. These charges often take a huge chunk out of
Hidden dangers of charges that ruin your pension investments Read More »
Intro written by Kim: ‘This week Angie travelled for work (yet again): she had to fly from Granada to Barcelona. Disaster struck – her baggage sadly did not make the full journey -it’s sitting in the triangle of lost luggage no doubt. The airline – Vueling – whilst only providing the flight, was still happy
Vueling v Old Mutual International Read More »
The Nitwits were out in force this week. Brexit – like any other real, potential or imagined crisis – provides wonderful opportunities for pension scammers. Put people into a corner; wrap them in fear and uncertainty; set semi-literate politicians against each other; and carve out a nifty niche to scam away with deadly precision. Just
BREXIT AND THE NITWITS Read More »
BREXIT is the question on everybody’s lips at the moment. BREXIT: will we? won´t we? deal? no deal? So many unanswered questions and so much scaremongering. We would like to offer some helpful words and hopefully protect you from making rash decisions. This could help you to safeguard your pension. Many scammers are trying to cash
Expats and Brexit – Safeguard your pension Read More »
SCAMMER JAILED! Hip hip hooray! we say. What a great start to the new year. Neil Bartlett, 53, of Delamere Road, Ainsdale, used £4.5m of his victims’ money to fund an extravagant lifestyle of foreign travel, top hotels and gambling. Bartlett was handed an eight year sentence for his involvement in the multi-million pound investment fraud
Scammer jailed – hip hip hooray! – scammer jailed Read More »
In follow up to our blog ´Cold calling ban not approved´, we can confirm that as of the 9th January 2019, that companies who cold call with advice on pensions schemes could face fines of up to £500,000. Notice I highlight the word ´could´. If you have read our other blog you will already know that
Fines to be imposed on cold callers, but will it really put a stop the scammers? Read More »
FT adviser published an article entitled, Cold calling ban approved by committee. However, do not get too excited as it hasn’t actually been approved by Parliament or got anywhere closer to being included in UK legislation. Plans to ban cold calling were announced back in August 2017. Scammers love to cold call their victims and hard
Cold calling ban still not approved Read More »
As 2018 draws to a close, a recap is in order to review the year’s progress in the war against pension scammers. Let us not forget – in the immortal words of the Pensions Regulator’s Lesley Titcombe: “scammers are criminals“. However, the sad truth is that most of them have not been prosecuted or jailed.
Scammers are criminals. So why aren’t they in jail? Read More »
Premier New Earth Recycling and Renewables PLC (in liquidation) is being wound up by Deloittes. Joint liquidators Alexander Cameron Adam and David Peter Craine have written to shareholders to say the directors of NERR aren’t being terribly helpful. Apparently, they are refusing to cooperate with the investigation into why the company failed and are insisting
Premier New Earth Recycling (NERR) Investment Scam Read More »
Berkeley Burke SIPPS – A SLIP OF THE TICK WITH THE SIPPS We talk about the so-called “independent advisers” who sell scams to unwitting victims; we talk about the firms, introducers, cold-callers, lead generators, closers, couriers and transfer administrators. Many of the Pension Life blogs mention good old Stephen Ward – one of the leading
Berkeley Burke SLIP with their SIPPS Read More »
This could possibly be described as wonderful news for the victims of Viceroy Jones New Tech Ltd, Viceroy Jones Overseas PCC Limited, Westcountrytruffles Limited, Truffle Sales Ltd and Credit Free Limited. Or maybe not. The whereabouts of the funds is unknown. This pension liberation and investment scam saw 100 investors conned out of £9m of
High Court finally winds up the truffle saga pension scam Read More »
DWF’s clever PR chaps have come up with some impressive words to sell this law firm’s services: “We connect expert services with innovative thinkers across diverse sectors wherever our clients do business.” They even reach as far as the Spanish village of Moraira where Stephen Ward plies his evil trade. DWF is clearly a big firm
DWF Solicitors and their client Stephen Ward Read More »
TPR launches first fraud prosecution I am not often left speechless, but in this case all I can say is: WOW! The Pensions Regulator announced on 11th December 2018 that it is to launch its first fraud case – against Roger Bessent of Gleeson Bessent Trustees in the matter of the Focusplay Retirement Benefit Scheme.
Pensions Regulator – Light Speed with Gleeson Bessent Trustees Read More »
A victim of the Capita Oak pension scam has had his Pensions Ombudsman’s complaint upheld in part ONLY. His ceding trustee, JLT Benefits Solutions Limited (JLT), has been ordered to pay compensation but has not been held responsible for his loss. When my children were young, I always tried to treat them all equally. They
Ombudsman upholds Capita Oak transfer complaint – sort of Read More »
Gerard Associates – an FCA-regulated firm – makes the case for regulating the “profession” of scamming. One of Gerard Associates’ victims, a Police officer, complained to the Financial Ombudsman. He had been scammed out of his Police pension and into the London Quantum pension scam by Gary Barlow of Gerard Associates and Stephen Ward of
GERARD ASSOCIATES – FCA-REGULATED SCAMMING Read More »
Henry Tapper has published an interesting article about the problem of the number of lost pensions. We live in an age where careers are much more fluid and many people move companies or retrain and change professions. This mean many people may have had five or six different jobs (if not more) throughout their working career.
Where’s my pension? Read More »
This blog was writtern almost nine years ago by: Carl Melvin BA (Hons), MSc, CFP, FPFS, Chartered FCSI Certified & Chartered Financial Planner, Affiliate of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners, Chartered Wealth Manager. Somethings don’t change! A new model challenge to the offshore sharks The arrival of wraps allows fee-based financial planners in
Guest Blog: A new model challenge to the offshore sharks Read More »
I have enormous respect for FT Adviser. Their articles are written by proper journalists and they generally write competently and professionally. FT Adviser puts International Adviser to shame with their thinly-disguised promotional shows and Micky Mouse “articles” which only ever promote their own sponsors – Old Mutual International and their ilk. It was really interesting
FT Adviser Top 100 Financial Advisers 2018 Read More »
Long-term savings plans by Friends Provident, Generali, Zurich, Hansard and RL360. These have been around for years and are typically mis-sold by seedy, unregulated advisory firms. Why don’t we come up with an alternative? THE LONG-TERM SAVINGS PIG! Roughly speaking, the con artists at Friends Provident, Generali, Zurich, Hansard and RL360 structure these products so that
Long-Term Savings Pig Read More »
International Adviser really can’t make up its mind whether it is organising a piss-up in a brewery, a news roundup carefully slewed in favour sponsors Old Mutual International, or a marketing machine. I read with interest the recent IA Industry Most Influential Top 100 described by IA thus: “we at International Adviser decided to shine a light
International Adviser – Have I Got News For You! Read More »
Having the highest possible regard for lawyers in general, and JMW Solicitors in particular, it is good to report that there is now a dialogue in progress which will hopefully result in Dolphin Trust producing a copy of the audited accounts. An excellent outcome would also be the repayment of the loan notes. JMW Solicitors
Dolphin Trust’s Lawyers JMW Solicitors LLP Read More »
Capita Oak – the perfect scam This is a letter I wrote to XXXX XXXX´s solicitor back in April 2017. It was ignored. Of course. Dear Thurlstone, (XXXX XXXX) I am now preparing the appeals for the Capita Oak victims against the tax assessments issued by HMRC in respect of the 5% Thurlstone “loans” which
CAPITA OAK PENSION SCAM AND THURLSTONE LOANS Read More »
Integrated Capabilities – a Trust Company based in Malta have created their own Pension Scheme – Azure Pensions. On the face of it, however, the management team do not appear to have learned anything from their previous experience with Optimus Retirement Benefit Scheme No.1 and their association with David Vilka of Square Mile International Financial. It
AZURE PENSIONS – a reputation built on lack of trust Read More »
Stephen Ward of Premier Pension Solutions SL and Premier Pension Transfers Ltd and Dorrixo Alliance Ltd has now been banned from acting as a pension trustee by the Pensions Regulator. Ward’s sidekick Anthony Salih – based at the notorious 31 Memorial Road, Worsley address – has been similarly banned. The ban has been in relation
Stephen Ward – The Death of Trust Read More »
Tackling Caravan Crime – Chancellor Philip Hammond. Victims of pension fraud in scams such as Ark, Capita Oak, Westminster, London Quantum, Friendly Pensions and Salmon Enterprises – will not be surprised to hear that even the Crown Prosecution Service acknowledges that the fraudsters have defeated the system. Alison Saunders, head of the CPS, has stated publicly
Tackling Caravan Crime – Chancellor Philip Hammond Read More »
This week Henry Tapper wrote a blog entitled, “The wheels of the law turn (too) slowly”. He exposes the fact that when it comes to financial crime the justice system in place just isn´t enough. I think he was being generous with his title. The wheels of the law don’t just turn slowly – they just don’t
The wheels of the law don´t seem to turn at all Read More »
Sadly, Spain – the leading British expat destination in Europe – is rife with scams and scammers. The Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Costa Brava and everything in between are crawling with what the Spanish regulator calls “chiringuitos” – literally “bar flies”. And you can see why: wherever there is food – whether fresh or
COSTA SCAM – THE COST OF “ADVICE” IN SPAIN Read More »
Blevins Franks – a so-called financial advisory firm in Spain and other places around the Med – might (hopefully) offer me a job. I quite fancy trying my hand at being a financial adviser, so I’m practicing cheesy smiles and earnest but friendly poses. Over the weekend I’m going to rehearse some elevator pitches and killer closing offers
RUSSELL UP CLIENTS FOR BLEVINS FRANKS Read More »
Back due to popular demand, qualified and registered company blogs. Today, I am looking into Belgravia Wealth, a Swiss based company. Belgravia Wealth – qualified and registered? Lets see if you are. Belgravia Wealth has an impressive list of services offered. However, those who follow our blogs will know that the terms “structured products” and pensions
Belgravia Wealth – qualified and registered? Read More »
The financial services industry has failed with flying colours to achieve transparency – both offshore and in the UK. The single most important thing about any product or service is transparency – aka honesty. This is where the profession has tolerated – and even encouraged – bare-faced lying for years and continues to do so
Transparency Failure With Flying Colours Read More »
Unqualified Pension Scammers Banned Articles like New Model Adviser’s report on some of the scammers behind the Capita Oak/Henley/Store First scam getting banned always makes me smile. Knowing that a few pension scammers (four in this case), are being named and shamed – as well as banned from being directors – motivates me to share information
Unqualified pension scammers banned Read More »
Nitwit or Dragonfly? Gambling or Investing? Are investment losses as a result of a bad adviser or a bad investment? Or both? The real question is: how does the consumer tell the difference? A favourite episode of Fawlty Towers involved Basil’s ill-fated bet on a racehorse called Dragonfly. Confusion sets in – fuelled by the
Nitwit or Dragonfly? Gambling or Investing? Read More »
Written by Kim All pension and investment scams have one thing in common: if the pension scam victims had asked the offshore advisers some or all of these 10 essential questions, they might not have lost their life savings to the scammers. Here at Pension Life, we are working hard to help educate the masses
Cartoon blog – Don’t be the next pension scam victim Read More »
Pension scammers have a “code”. Rather like pirates, they are not to be trusted. They pick their words carefully, revealing little; they are sneaky and lack any morals. They are good at disguises and if they fear they may be rumbled, they will disappear over the horizon, never to be seen again. They certainly won’t
Trolley’s Pension Scam Guide Read More »
International Adviser and the Old Mutual International/Quilter Scams. Today’s jolly: “Future Advisory Forum Europe 2018” at the Courthouse Hotel, Shoreditch, will see a number of players in the financial services industry discussing – presumably – financial services in 2018. I’ve looked at the agenda, however, and I can’t see anything about pension scams or investment scams
International Adviser and the Old Mutual International/Quilter Scams Read More »
2,000 victims of fraudulent pension firms may be in with a chance of getting their funds back. In November, the FCA pushed for legal proceedings to go ahead against collapsed firm Avacade Limited, trading as Avacade Investment Options; and Alexandra Associates (UK) Limited, trading as Avacade Future Solutions. Past prosecutions made by the FCA: In 2016,
Pay back due from fraudulent pension firms Read More »
Here at Pension Life, we are constantly trying to raise awareness about pension scams. The Financial Conduct Authority – FCA – has also been busy. Pairing up with the Pensions Regulator – tPR – they have published the ScamSmart campaign with the slogan – Be ScamSmart with your pension. With the ScamSmart campaign, they have also
FCA launches new ScamSmart campaign Read More »
Katar Investments say they give UK and overseas investment advice in a simple way. However, the types of investment opportunities they are offering are, unfortunately, once again, making my red beacon flash. So, with Déjà vu, let me tell you why. Please make sure you are comfy, this might take a while! Firstly, I had
Katar Investment Weapons Read More »
All victims of the Continental Wealth Management pension scam will agree – this kind of disaster must never be allowed to happen again. Here´s Pension Life´s take on what happened in the CWM CONference given by Darren Kirby. The CWM advisers. . . Dean Stogsdill * Alan Gorringe * Richard Peasley * Neil Hathaway, but to name
ROLL UP! ROLL UP! ME HEARTY SCAMMERS! OMI’S LATEST STRUCTURED NOTE SCAM IS ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 28TH SO GET A JIGGLE ON WHILE STOCKS OF THIS TOXIC CRAP LAST! WE ARE PROUD TO OFFER OUR VALUED SCAMMERS YET ANOTHER INVESTMENT SCAM BY OLD MUTUAL INTERNATIONAL. This wonderful investment scamming opportunity with OMI, is open to
YET ANOTHER STRUCTURED NOTE SCAM BY OLD MUTUAL INTERNATIONAL Read More »
This week, in my mission to disclose advisory firms´ claims to qualifications (or in fact the lack of them), I am looking into Square Mile International Financial Services – qualified and registered? What the Square Mile website page says: Despite referring to their Prague headquarters in a lovely paragraph: “Square Mile has a dedicated customer
Square Mile International Financial Services – qualified and registered? Read More »
In my weekly hunt for the next firm to feature in my ´qualified and registered?´ blog series, I came across an advisory company that caught my attention: The Imperius Group, run by a fella named Tim Blogg, who claims to have retrained 25 years ago to offer pension and investment advice to expats. Regular followers
Don´t put your trust in The Imperius Group Read More »
In many pension scams, we see the use of totally unsuitable, high-risk, for-professional-investor-only structured notes. These notes often offer the introducer high commissions. However, they are risky, fixed-term investments that often end in the loss of some – or even all – of the fund invested. Therefore, these types of investments are totally unsuitable for
Structured notes – knowing the risks Read More »
Victims of the unregulated property scheme Harlequin, may be disheartened to know that Alistair Burns has escaped with a reduced fine for his role as chief executive of TailorMade International. The FCA originally proposed Burns should face a fine of £233,600, along with a ban back in December 2016. However, the Upper Tribunal, whilst upholding the ban, has
TailorMade International – gets a tailor-made fine reduction Read More »
If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs, you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today I am investigating Robusto Asset Management – qualified and registered? IFAs and their clients are invited to add to it, correct it, improve it. Here’s a link to
Robusto Asset Management – qualified and registered? Read More »
STM Group has announced the following trading updates for the first half of this year. STM state that the first half of the year has progressed in line with management´s expectations. They refer to this with particular emphasis on their SIPPS program. For those readers who are unfamiliar with STM’s past investment scams, here is a
STM Group Plc – announces trading update Read More »
Abbey Wealth Spain – qualified and registered? If you have been following Pension Life´s blogs, you will know that we have been conducting a series of investigations into qualified and registered financial advisers in various firms. Today, Abbey Wealth Spain – qualified and registered? Advisers and their clients are invited to add to it, correct it and
Abbey Wealth Spain – qualified and registered? Read More »
Investors’ trust is what gets violated in so many cases by irresponsible and negligent insurance companies such as Old Mutual International, SEB, Generali, RL360, Friends Provident International – and, of course, the firm in the Cayman Islands: Investors Trust. These companies – also known as “life offices” (although we prefer to call them “death offices”
Serious Violation of Investors’ Trust – by Investors Trust (life office) Read More »
49-year-old Freddy David of Elstree, Borehamwood, of North London, faces six years in jail for conning millions of pounds out of people in his community through an investment scam. David, once a well-respected member of his community and former financial adviser, obtained money by deception to fund his gambling habit. Figures of his scam are
Jailed – adviser who gambled his investors´ money away Read More »
