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Fighting Financial Crime

Keeping Vitality members safe

What is financial crime?

Financial crime covers a wide range of criminal offences including fraud, money laundering, bribery and corruption, terrorist financing and tax evasion. Financial gain is the primary motivation for these crimes.

How does financial crime impact you?

Everyone is a potential victim, financial crime awareness is key to your protection.

Financial crime is not victimless and can have an impact on people in multiple ways; not only financially through the increase in policy premiums, but also emotionally - for example in instances where identity fraud is committed, it can particularly affect the confidence of vulnerable customers in their ability to manage their financial affairs.

Vitality are acutely aware that our business and our members are all potential victims. Below are some examples of the types of fraud that individuals could fall victim to:

  • Identity theft – always keep your personal details safe
  • Ghost brokers - we sell some of our insurance plans through brokers and intermediaries but we only deal with FCA authorised firms. Unfortunately, fraudsters sometimes target the places where you look for a quote online. When searching for an insurance deal, be aware that if it seems too good to be true then it probably is
  • Mass marketing fraud scam email – emails luring individuals to claim fake prizes or large sums of money, very often targeting the elderly and vulnerable
  • Internet scams – scammers may attempt to install programs on your computer which steal, wipe or lock your data
  • Pension scams - pension and investment scams are often difficult to spot as they're designed to look genuine and can take such forms as:
    • Investment fraud – often taken the shape of a cold call/text offer for a free “investment or pension review”
    • Pension liberation

How can I protect myself?

  • Keep it secret. Consider your personal details to be as valuable as cash – in the hands of a criminal there is no difference
  • Don’t give any personal information (name, address, phone numbers etc.) to people or organisations before first verifying their credentials
  • Always protect your Vitality membership number and plan number
  • Some fraudsters will "cold-call" armed with minimal information hoping to elicit a whole lot more. So, if you receive a suspicious phone call hang up immediately.
 

Below is a list of organisations and websites where you can find more information on how to safeguard yourself against financial crime:

  • The Pensions Advisory Service

    The Pensions Advisory Service logo

    Find out how safe your pension is and receive impartial guidance 24/7 from The Pensions Advisory Service

    Find out more

  • The Pensions Regulator's scam guide

    Golden egg

    Learn how to spot the signs of a fraudster and use the Pensions Regulator’s scams guide to protect yourself

    Find out more

  • Action Fraud's cyber crime guide

    Action Fraud

    Need to report a fraud or cyber crime? Use Action Fraud’s guide to learn how.

    Find out more

  • Metropolitan Police's Little Book of Big Scams

    Entering credit card details on mobile

    Find out about the most common scams with this comprehensive guide on fraud prevention by the Metropolitan Police Service

    Read now

  • The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

    Financial Conduct Authority logo

    The FCA provide detailed information about how to protect yourself from scams and common ones to look out for

    Find out more

  • The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA): ScamSmart

    Login details should be kept secret

    Use the FCA’s warning tool to check an investment or pension opportunity you’ve been offered to avoid scams

    Find out more

  • Get Safe Online's free expert advice

    Get safe online, keep your credit card details secret

    Discover how to protect yourself, your computers and mobile devices, and your business with Get Safe Online

    Find out more

Get in touch

If you're a Vitality member and concerned that you may be a victim of fraud, get in touch with us through these numbers.

  • VitalityHealth

    0345 602 3523
    Monday–Friday: 8am–7pm
    Saturday: 9am–1pm

  • VitalityLife

    0345 601 0072
    Monday–Thursday: 8:30am–6pm
    Friday: 8.30am–5pm
    Saturday–Sunday: Closed

  • VitalityInvest

    0333 99 60 400
    Monday–Friday: 9:00am–5pm
    Saturday–Sunday: Closed