If someone other than Gloucestershire Pension Fund contacts you out of the blue about your pension or offers high/guaranteed returns, treat it as suspicious. Don’t assume they’re genuine, even if they appear to know some basic information about you.
Pension safety and scams
Stay alert to protect your pension from increasingly sophisticated scams
You’ve worked hard to build your LGPS benefits, but scammers may try to target your pension savings. Fraud can happen anywhere - online, by phone, on social media, or even on your doorstep. Scammers can seem professional, so staying vigilant is essential in protecting your pension.
Steps to stay scam safe
if you’re ever approached about your pension you should go through this checklist:
If someone other than Gloucestershire Pension Fund contacts you out of the blue about your pension or offers high/guaranteed returns, treat it as suspicious. Don’t assume they’re genuine, even if they appear to know some basic information about you.
Check the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Register to confirm the firm is genuine, authorised, and not a clone. Tip: double check the firm's contact details against the register and see if they match.
Scroll down this page to see how we at Gloucestershire Pension Fund will contact you, and how to recognise genuine communications from us.
Check the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Register to confirm the firm is genuine, authorised, and not a clone. Tip: double check the firm's contact details against the register and see if they match.
Scroll down this page to see how we at Gloucestershire Pension Fund will contact you, and how to recognise genuine communications from us.
Fraudsters use pressure to force quick decisions. Take your time, check the details, and remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Hang up on calls and ignore messages if you feel pressured to act quickly. A genuine bank or business won’t mind waiting if you want time to think.
Fraudsters use pressure to force quick decisions. Take your time, check the details, and remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Hang up on calls and ignore messages if you feel pressured to act quickly. A genuine bank or business won’t mind waiting if you want time to think.
Use trusted impartial sources like MoneyHelper or an FCA regulated financial adviser before making any decisions.
Use trusted impartial sources like MoneyHelper or an FCA regulated financial adviser before making any decisions.
How to recognise genuine communications
from Gloucestershire Pension Fund
When we contact you, we will:
Use official email addresses ending in @gloucestershire.gov.uk - if the email address looks unusual, contains extra characters, spelling errors, or does not match this domain, treat it with caution.
Direct you to our official website or your Engage portal if we need you to submit documents or complete a task, or ask you to securely send information to an email address ending in our domain.
Provide general information related to pensions or the Fund.
We will never:
Ask for your bank details or security information by email*.
Ask for any password, including your Engage password.
Ask you to click unexpected links or download suspicious attachments.
Pressure you to act quickly or threaten negative consequences if you do not respond.
Contact you from free email accounts such as Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo.
* We would only ask you for bank details or security information as part of a pending case, which you would have prior knowledge of.
If you're ever unsure whether a message is really from us, please do not reply or click on any links. Instead, contact us using the details on our official website.
Using Engage – the safest way to share information
We strongly encourage members to use Engage, our secure online member portal, where you can:
- Upload documents safely.
- Notify us of changes to your personal details.
Engage uses security tools such as encrypted connections and controlled access to protect your personal information.
The Fund uses Target Professional Services - a global data validation and trace specialist, who specialise in tracing, screening, and cleansing data whilst ensuring data security and enhanced management - to ensure all member data for our Fund is handled in line with the most stringent and enhanced security procedures.
Understanding cyber threats
You may have heard of some or all of the terms below. Click on them to find out more:
Emails that pretend to be from a trusted organisation but aim to steal your information.
Warning signs include:
- Urgent or threatening language.
- Unexpected attachments.
- Poor spelling or odd formatting.
- Requests for personal or financial information.
Emails that pretend to be from a trusted organisation but aim to steal your information.
Warning signs include:
- Urgent or threatening language.
- Unexpected attachments.
- Poor spelling or odd formatting.
- Requests for personal or financial information.
Fraudsters may try to make an email look like it comes from a genuine organisation.
Always check the sender’s actual address carefully (we will only use @gloucestershire.gov.uk).
Fraudsters may try to make an email look like it comes from a genuine organisation.
Always check the sender’s actual address carefully (we will only use @gloucestershire.gov.uk).
Be cautious of:
- Free pension reviews.
- Guarantees of high returns.
- Investment opportunities that ask you to move your pension quickly.
If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.
Be cautious of:
- Free pension reviews.
- Guarantees of high returns.
- Investment opportunities that ask you to move your pension quickly.
If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.