ProSearch Scam

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Received a letter today: ProSearch on behalf of Lloyd's Banking Group

"Cash entitlements including unpaid dividends: £3.51 "
less
admin fee of 12.5%
plus VAT


:think: Am I tempted?

Slight flaw ... while they had one name totally correct on the letter, mine was way wide of the mark. Now, for a "professional search" company, you would think they would at least get my name right!?

:think: They want my date of birth, signature, email address, telephone number: am I tempted?

Toughie: not!!

jackieja

Had same letter addressed to my mum as executor for my father - years after his death- she was upset so I just said not to worry, just another scam and took hold of it, bits rang true but fees were ridiculous, sat on it for a while, then decided would follow up, via for registrars NOT Prosearch. (in my case which was HBOS, it's Eqiniti) They checked the details, and though they said they might charge a nominal fee to reissue the cheque, in the circumstances they did not. Prosearch are still sending letters, though my mum has had the money for months

bajangal

jackieja wrote: »

Had same letter addressed to my mum as executor for my father - years after his death- she was upset so I just said not to worry, just another scam and took hold of it, bits rang true but fees were ridiculous, sat on it for a while, then decided would follow up, via for registrars NOT Prosearch. (in my case which was HBOS, it's Eqiniti) They checked the details, and though they said they might charge a nominal fee to reissue the cheque, in the circumstances they did not. Prosearch are still sending letters, though my mum has had the money for months

Write/phone ProSearch and tell them you dealt with Equniti. They (ProSearch) will then close their file.

jaks_2

Simmo180 wrote: »

I got a letter today from Prosearch and it has the Lloyds Banking Group logo at the top. It is telling me I have £93.70 in unpaid dividends that I can claim. All the other info is the same as has been mentioned above with the 12.5% + VAT charges.

I didn't think I had any shares now, so is it possible that these dividends were gained whilst I still had the shares but were never passed on?

Also, as it's Lloyds Banking Group would I try to contact Equiniti like others have done? Or should I be contacting Lloyds directly?

Any advice appreciated.

Hi Simmo

I have just received an identical letter to yours in terms of its content and would be interested to know the outcome of any enquiries you may have made. I've looked on the Lloyds Banking Group plc website and there was a link to Equiniti (and Prosearch are evidently a subsidiary as other posters have said). In my case, the shares were those of my late stepmother. It seemed to be legitimate given that there is an option to donate the money to Save the Children - but then this forum would suggest otherwise. It's nevertheless very odd (given that stepmother died over 10 years ago and I've not changed my address).

smallsteve

My partner received a letter today and, whilst it looked professional and contained very specific information, my spider senses tingled. Thank heavens for sights lke this!
Whilst legal, this is about as justifiable as pay-day loans. It reminds me of the rip-off that sprang up about 15 years ago, relating to 'Luxury' cab hire - £300 / journey. If you didn't ask, they didn't tell until it was time to pay; a fool and their money are soon parted, hey!?
The letter we received did not mention any specific company entitlement and so i wonder how to go about finding this out? Thanks in anticipation of any assistance.

smallsteve

Just an afterthought, but if we all use their pre-paid envelopes and return them empty, will they not get the charge for that?

Witterings

rosiepops1 wrote: »

I received a letter today headed Santander, to tell me that i held 100 Abbey National shares that apparently was cancelled, it tells me that i am entitled to £494.62p in dividends, and that i have an entitlement to 100 Santander CDIs, the letter has my correct name and address on it, but then i noticed that it had a previous address that certainly is not mine. This made me a little weary, also, ProSearch charge a 10% fee. Do i ring them on Monday and ask if they have the wrong person? or do i just put this letter into the trash with my details taken off it?
best regards

I've just received an identical one of these, do I actually have anything of value ie is the dividend actualy outstanding and can I claim the shares and if so any idea how I'd go about doing it directly??

wealdroam

Witterings wrote: »

I've just received an identical one of these, do I actually have anything of value ie is the dividend actualy outstanding and can I claim the shares and if so any idea how I'd go about doing it directly??

All the information you need is posted earlier in the thread.

You should be able to work out that you need to contact Equiniti, and their phone number is also posted in this thread.

Good luck.

Witterings

wealdroam wrote: »

You should be able to work out that you need to contact Equiniti, and their phone number is also posted in this thread.
Good luck.

I did see them mentioned but the way it was written I thought it linked the 2 companies and so I thought I'd end up with the same charges / scam ???????

I may well have misunderstood what it was saying ????

I've just double checked on the form that Pro Search sent and on the bottom it says they are a part of the Equiniti Group of companies so why would they not take the same percentage???

wealdroam

Witterings wrote: »

I did see them mentioned but the way it was written I thought it linked the 2 companies and so I thought I'd end up with the same charges / scam ???????

I may well have misunderstood what it was saying ????

I've just double checked on the form that Pro Search sent and on the bottom it says they are a part of the Equiniti Group of companies so why would they not take the same percentage???

If you were to do what I just did and type Abbey National Shares into google you will find this website:
http://www.aboutsantander.co.uk/shareholders.aspx

Equiniti are the share registrars for Santander.

It is the share registrars for a particular company that you need to contact about that company's shares.

I would suggest to contact Equiniti to ask about any shares that they may know about held (or were once held) in your name.

Yes, they will charge a fee to forward your assets, but that fee will be significantly less that prosearch's.

Did you ever own Abbey National shares?