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 »
