We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
The MSE Forum Team would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas. However, we know this time of year can be difficult for some. If you're struggling during the festive period, here's a list of organisations that might be able to help
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Has MSE helped you to save or reclaim money this year? Share your 2025 MoneySaving success stories!
Prosearch/Royal Dutch Shell Letter
lo_bush
Posts: 1,409 Forumite
Hi all, I wonder if anyone could help with this.
A couple of days ago my hubby got a letter/claim form from a company called Prosearch trying to 'reunite' him with 'unclaimed assets' from Royal Dutch Shell shares. Our first instinct was 'its a scam' as he has no knowledge of ever owning such shares.
The letter is worded in a such a way to suggest that these shares are definitely his, it is just a matter of claiming ownership. After a little internet searching it would appear that Prosearch were appointed by RDS to locate 'missing' shareholders and the only references I can find on the internet, to the company 'scamming' people is their ridiculous high charges for their services. A little further research suggests that you can side step Prosearch and claim the shares yourself through Equiniti, for a much lower fee.
However, although the letter was sent to our current address with my husbands correct name (including his middle name ie: not just initials) they claim to have written before but we have never had any contact from them before, although, I guess letters could go astray.
It also refers to a previous address that the shares were held at with a C/O name. Neither hubby or myself are aware of any connection to that address or even recognise the name the shares were supposedly held in C/O.
The letter gives examples of how people lose touch with their investments or are unaware of them, for example if they are beneficiaries of a will etc, which , I suppose, is plausable.
It is a not an insignificant amount (almost £4000 in unclaimed dividends as well as the value of the actual shares) and obviously if it is something he is entitled to we would like to claim it but at the same time are wary of producing documents proving ID etc. unless we are sure this is genuine and that it is something that he is actually entitled to claim.
I am very cautious about all this and am mindful that generally if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Is this all some elaborate scam? Or possibly a case of Prosearch attributing the shares to the wrong person?
Any help or advice on what to do next would be welcomed, thanks in advance.
A couple of days ago my hubby got a letter/claim form from a company called Prosearch trying to 'reunite' him with 'unclaimed assets' from Royal Dutch Shell shares. Our first instinct was 'its a scam' as he has no knowledge of ever owning such shares.
The letter is worded in a such a way to suggest that these shares are definitely his, it is just a matter of claiming ownership. After a little internet searching it would appear that Prosearch were appointed by RDS to locate 'missing' shareholders and the only references I can find on the internet, to the company 'scamming' people is their ridiculous high charges for their services. A little further research suggests that you can side step Prosearch and claim the shares yourself through Equiniti, for a much lower fee.
However, although the letter was sent to our current address with my husbands correct name (including his middle name ie: not just initials) they claim to have written before but we have never had any contact from them before, although, I guess letters could go astray.
It also refers to a previous address that the shares were held at with a C/O name. Neither hubby or myself are aware of any connection to that address or even recognise the name the shares were supposedly held in C/O.
The letter gives examples of how people lose touch with their investments or are unaware of them, for example if they are beneficiaries of a will etc, which , I suppose, is plausable.
It is a not an insignificant amount (almost £4000 in unclaimed dividends as well as the value of the actual shares) and obviously if it is something he is entitled to we would like to claim it but at the same time are wary of producing documents proving ID etc. unless we are sure this is genuine and that it is something that he is actually entitled to claim.
I am very cautious about all this and am mindful that generally if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
Is this all some elaborate scam? Or possibly a case of Prosearch attributing the shares to the wrong person?
Any help or advice on what to do next would be welcomed, thanks in advance.
When Life Throws You Lemons Make Lemonade
0
Comments
-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2618369
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12373454
see above links, speak to equiniti directly0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.9K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.7K Spending & Discounts
- 246K Work, Benefits & Business
- 602.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.8K Life & Family
- 259.9K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards