Helping you stay safe from financial crime and scams

Stay protected against fraud

Anyone can fall victim to a scam. With cybercrime and fraudulent activity becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to spot, it’s now more important than ever to stay vigilant online and be aware of suspicious activity.

What are the different types of scams?

Scams can be anything from fake websites and products to emails, text messages and phone calls. Scammers will often request personal information from you, such as bank details or passwords, via messages that look genuine but are designed to make you act impulsively and second guess your instincts.

In the past, scammers have contacted our customers and attempted to defraud them. This page contains important information to help you stay protected against potential scams and to keep your finances safe.

Suspicious activity by fraudsters can take many forms, and scammers can use various methods to try and obtain personal information from you. We explore some of the common methods below.

Stay safe tip: remember, if it looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

Email scams

Scam emails may look authentic however their purpose is usually to frighten you into acting quickly. For example, they could claim there’s a problem with your policy with us and provide instructions to solve the issue.

Signs of a potential email scam

Emails from scammers may look real; check for typos in the address e.g. 'investments@Canidalife.co.uk'. You can also hover your mouse over the address; if a different one appears, then it’s probably a scam.
Pay attention to how the email’s written. Incomplete or disjointed sentences and spelling mistakes are all tell-tale signs of a scam.
If you think you’ve received a suspicious email, don’t click on any links or act on any instructions in the email, you could land on a cloned website or download a computer virus.

Stay safe tip: many scam emails try to look like they’re from genuine companies by using their name, logo and branding. If you receive one of these emails, it’s best to contact the genuine company directly by using the contact information from their real website. Don’t use any contact information from the email.

Cloned websites

A cloned website is a fake replica of a company’s website. Its purpose is to trick customers into believing it’s real so scammers can ask the customer to enter their personal or bank details.

Cloned websites can sometimes advertise fake products that promise to make you money. These ‘products’ often seem too good to be true. If you fill in an application or make a purchase, you could hand over important information such as your bank details, password, or date of birth.

Stay safe tip: the easiest way to identify a cloned website is by looking at the domain name. For example, Canada Life only has a small number of websites; our contact details can all be found here. Always look at the website domain for clues to make sure you aren’t accessing a cloned website. If you are in doubt, contact Canada Life directly for advice.

Phone scams

Scammers will often call or text out of the blue and make you feel under pressure to give personal information right then and there. While we may call you from time to time, we’ll never ask you for your bank details over the phone. Canada Life will never text you, so any message claiming to be from us should be regarded with immediate suspicion.

Phone call scams

  • While security questions are common to confirm your ID, scammers will try to get as much information from you as they can. Avoid giving away bank details, passwords, or PIN numbers over the phone to prevent identity theft or financial loss

  • Is the caller being persistent? Scammers will pressure you into giving them what they want. Take as much time as you need to think it through. If you feel uncomfortable, hang up

  • Is the phone call from a company you’ve never heard of before? Is the call coming from a withheld number? Does the reason for the phone call sound suspicious? If in doubt, play it safe and hang up

Text message scams

  • While security questions are common to confirm your ID, scammers will try to get as much information from you as they can. Avoid giving away bank details, passwords, or PIN numbers over the phone to prevent identity theft or financial loss

  • Be aware of odd, incorrect punctuation and spelling.
    Are there odd symbols in the text message, spelling errors or incorrect use of punctuation? These are all signs of scams

  • Be careful of links in texts. For example, a scam text may tell you that there’s a problem with your policy or bank details and ask you to click on a link to solve the problem. Although it may seem quick and easy, you might be sent to a cloned website or exposed to a phone virus

Stay safe tip: always trust your instincts. If you believe you have received a suspicious text, forward the message to 7726*. This is a free-of-charge service, and your provider will be able to investigate the origins of the text. Take your time, and never feel under pressure to hand over your important information. Hang up if something doesn’t feel right.

Pension scams

Pension scams are among the most common that people may fall victim to. It was reported that the average losses from pension scams double in a year, with victims typically losing more than £50,000*.

*Sky News, 2023

How do I spot and avoid pension scams?

There are resources available to help you spot and avoid pension scams: 

Ten key tips to help avoid financial scams