Boiler Room Scams
Informa plc is legally obliged to make its share register available to the general public. Consequently some shareholders may receive unsolicited mail, including correspondence from unauthorised investment companies.
Over the last year a number of companies have become aware that their shareholders have received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning investment matters. These are typically from overseas based brokers who target UK shareholders offering to sell what often turn out to be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. These operations are commonly known as 'boiler rooms'. They can be very persistent and extremely persuasive, and a 2006 survey by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) has reported that the average amount lost by investors is around £20,000. Shareholders are advised to be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports. It is not just the novice investor that has been duped in this way; many of the victims had been successfully investing for several years.
If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:
If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you would not be eligible to receive payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA can be contacted by completing an online form at www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/doing/regulated/law/alerts/overseas.shtml
Details of any share dealing facilities that the company endorses will be included in company mailings.
More detailed information on this or similar activity can be found on the FSA website http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/
Tips on protecting your shareholding
- Ensure all your certificates are kept in a safe place or hold your shares electronically in CREST via a nominee
- Keep all correspondence from the Registrars which shows your shareowner reference number in a safe place, or destroy correspondence by shredding
- If you change address inform the Registrars. If you receive a letter from the Registrars regarding a change of address and you have not recently moved, please contact them immediately.
- Know when the dividends are paid and consider having your dividends paid directly into your bank (you will need to fill out a dividend mandate form and send it to the Registrars), thus reducing the risk of the cheque being intercepted or lost in the post. If you change your bank account, inform the Registrars of the details of your new account. Respond to any letters the Registrars send to you about this.
- If you are buying or selling shares, only deal with brokers registered in the UK or in your country of residence.
Change of address and bank mandate security
Informa’s Registrar will not register a change of address or change of Bank Mandate instructions unless in writing and signed by the shareholder. They will take any other measures they feel reasonable to protect shareholders from fraudsters.