To help pension savers keep their hard-earned retirement savings out of the
hands of scammers, the government has introduced two checks that must be
made before a transfer can be paid from a defined benefit (DB) pension scheme, like the Scheme, to another UK or overseas pension arrangement.
You already have to prove you’ve taken independent financial advice if your DB
transfer value is more than £30,000, but the additional checks aim to provide an extra level of security.
- The first check is to identify whether the pension arrangement is ‘safe’. A safe scheme includes public sector pension schemes, authorised master trusts and authorised collective moneypurchase schemes – but not personal pensions with an insurer. If this condition is met, the transfer can proceed and there’s no requirement to carry out the second check.
- The second check looks for specific warning signs of a pension scam or high-risk investment – known as red or amber flags. A red flag means the Trustees can stop the transfer from going ahead by overriding your statutory right to a transfer. An amber flag means the transfer can only go ahead if you can show you’ve received expert scams guidance from MoneyHelper, the government’s free money and pensions guidance service (see page 6).
To help protect yourself against a potential scam:
- Reject any unexpected pension offers whether made online, on social media or by telephone, chances are it’s high risk or a scam.
- Check the FCA register or call the FCA contact centre to see if the firm you are dealing with is FCA registered.
- Don’t let yourself be rushed or pressured into making a decision.
- Consider getting impartial information or advice.
- Find out more about the warning signs of a pension scam at:
- www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/pension-scams