1. Fraudulent Activity

  2. Established organisations like Baillie Gifford are often targeted by fraudsters to add the appearance of legitimacy to their crimes. This can take many forms but often fraudsters will impersonate representatives of the targeted company. They will frequently use falsified or copied material (documentation, email addresses, websites etc.), that uses the branding and intellectual property of the targeted company, as a tool for such impersonation. 

  3. How to protect yourself and what to look out for?

    Keep log-in details secure by never sharing these with others. Use passwords that you can remember, but are difficult for others to guess, and never write them down.

    Warning signs may include unexpected contact either via phone or email, repeated contact, requests for personal or financial information, time sensitive offers or investment returns that sound too good to be true, and scam emails

    What are the warning signs?

    How do I protect myself?

    Unexpected contact, or repeated calls

    If you get cold-called, the safest thing to do is to hang up. If you get unexpectedly contacted by email, you should send the email, as an attachment, to the genuine firm’s fraud team, or ignore it.

    Requesting your PIN or password

    A genuine bank or organisation will never ask for these types of personal details. Never give them if prompted.

    Requesting personal details or financial information

    Never give them if it is not for a service you want or if you feel at all suspicious about the authenticity of the call.

    Tempting returns that sound too good to be true

    If an investment sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Trust your instinct and do not proceed.

    Offering reassurance about the risks involved

    If you are told not to worry about the risks and that the investment is safe, don’t simply accept that it is true. Challenge it and do not proceed if you feel uncertain.

    Exclusive offers

    If you are told the offer is only available to you, or you are asked not to tell anyone else about the opportunity, this is a sign that it is not genuine. Do not engage in any further communication.

    Unnecessary pressure

    If you are told it is a time-limited offer, or are offered a bonus or discount if you invest before a set date, do not be pressured into acting quickly – a genuine bank or investment firm won’t mind giving you time to think.

    Fraudsters are persistent

    Beware of anyone who calls you repeatedly and/or anyone who tries to keep you on the phone for long periods of time.

    Stop, Challenge, Protect

    National Crime Agency (NCA) mantra:

    • Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.
    • Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
    • Protect: Contact your investment manager immediately if you think you’ve been defrauded and report it to ActionFraud. Speak to your bank as soon as possible if you believe you have transferred money to a criminal.

     

    You can report to ActionFraud on www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040 or if in Scotland call 101.

    Keep an eye on your credit file. You can register (usually for free) with one of the following credit reference agencies for a regular update on your credit report:

    https://www.creditkarma.co.uk/

    https://www.experian.co.uk/

    https://www.equifax.co.uk/

     

    CIFAS is a charity fraud prevention organisation which will alert you to any activity in your name: https://www.cifas.org.uk/services/identity-protection/protective-registration

    To find out more about banking scams, Which?, the consumer rights group article provide guidance on action you can take to recover fraud losses if they have signed up to the voluntary Authorised Push Payment Scam Code.

    https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/what-to-do-if-youre-the-victim-of-a-bank-transfer-app-scam

    More information about pension frauds can be found at www.pension-scams.com.

    The UK consumer group ‘Which?’ has also published simple, straightforward advice on their website regarding how to spot a scam: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-spot-a-scam

    You can find out more about how to protect yourself from investment fraud on the Take Five website: https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

    Types of investment frauds to be aware of – phishing, cloning and vishing

    Here is a brief overview of each type and what to look out for:

     

    Suspicious emails and email scams (phishing) 

    Fraudsters will attempt to create what appears to be a legitimate e-mail email from an organisation like Baillie Gifford. Often the e-mail email will encourage you to click on a link. This may take you to a cloned website or install a computer virus. 

    Fraudulent email addresses often have spelling errors or numbers in the email address. 

    Our email address format is: [email protected]

    Forward suspicious phishing emails to the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Suspicious Email Reporting Service : [email protected].  

    https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails  

    (Note this email is not for reporting crimes)  

    If you have received an email claiming to be from Baillie Gifford which you believe may be fraudulent please send this to [email protected] by attaching it to a new email (rather than forwarding) and we will be happy to investigate and confirm if the contact is genuine.   

     

    Cloning scams (fake websites) – include our website address format, https: and padlock. 

    How to check if a firm is genuine?

     

    Vishing (unsolicited fraudulent call) 

    Fraudsters can telephone you and try to obtain personal information. 

    If you do receive a telephone call, it is it is best to hang up or end the call. 

    Please contact our Client Relations team on 0800 917 2112 or send an email with detail to [email protected] if you receive a telephone call from someone claiming to be from Baillie Gifford which you believe may be fraudulent. 

    COVID related fraud

    Fraudsters often take advantage of current events to catch people out amid crisis. We recommend checking a trusted source, like the Money Advice Service, regularly to be in the know of the latest frauds. Look out for people and organisations you don’t know asking for contributions towards COVID19 relief.  

    https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/types-of-scam 

    Remain vigilant and check genuine sources for information. 

    Contact and emails from BG

    BG will only contact you by email if you have signed up to be on our marketing list or in response to an email enquiry from you. We do not cold call prospective customers and we will not contact you by text or telephone suggesting that you buy an investment from us. 

    We will not solicit investment business with you directly. Application forms and top up forms will only be sent when requested by you.

    We will periodically contact you with the latest information on how to stay alert and safe from fraud. 

    Who to report fraudulent activity to – some useful links

    Report to ActionFraud on www.actionfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. 

    Notify the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) by telephoning their Consumer Helpline (0800 111 6768) or by filling in an online form (https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/report-scam-unauthorised-firm)  

    Forward suspicious phishing emails to the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Suspicious Email Reporting Service : [email protected].  

    https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails  

    (Note this NCSC email is not for reporting crimes).

    How to protect yourself if you have been subject to fraud

    • Cease all contact with the criminals and do not provide them with any further information.
    • If you have paid money to the fraudster, immediately contact your bank and advise them what has occurred, they may be able to get the money back for you. The bank may also be able to add further protective security measures to your account. Which? provides some useful information on how you may be able to make a claim against your bank to get your money reimbursed.
    • Report the scam to Action Fraud, they can be contacted on 0300 123 2040 or if in Scotland call 101, or via their website.
    • It’s also important to keep a watch on your credit file in the event that your details are used elsewhere by the fraudster. There are many free services that you can register on that will notify you if your details are used to obtain credit, examples of such services are Experian, Credit Karma and Equifax.
    • It is also advisable to notify any other companies that you hold financial products with, they may be able to offer you new account numbers or put additional security measures in place to protect your accounts.
    • Notify the FCA by calling their consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 or by completing their online form.
    • You can also forward suspicious emails to the National Crime Agency, via their Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). The email address is [email protected]
    • If you have been the victim of a scam from a cloned firm, whereby you are contacting by someone purporting to be from an FCA regulated firm that you then find to be fraudulent, you should also contact the genuine firm to report the incident. They can then notify the relevant agencies and take necessary actions.
    • Contact CIFAS, a charity fraud prevention organisation. They can ensure that you are alerted if an account in your name is opened with another financial organisation. They can also be contacted by telephone on 0330 100 0180.
    • Protect your property.  The Land Registry offer a free Property Alert service:  https://propertyalert.landregistry.gov.uk/  
    • You may also wish to contact the passport office for any further advice that they may offer in case your identity has been compromised on 0300 222 0000 and also the DVLA on 0300 790 6801.
    • Beware of further contact, e.g. a financial services firm will not ask for money upfront to return your money or assets to you. 
    • Beware of criminals pretending to be the police or the FCA. 
    • Beware of criminals claiming to be from the fraud team at your bank. 

  4. How to contact us

    If you are contacted by telephone, letter or email by someone claiming to represent Baillie Gifford, please contact our Client Relations team on 0800 917 2112 or at [email protected]. We will be happy to investigate and confirm if the contact is genuine.  

    When reporting to us please include the crime reference number if you have been given one.