Is this a scam?

colsten

Wolves51 wrote: »

..... an email with a spreadsheet of guaranteed returns.....

OMG. I hope you didn't open that spreadsheet. It might contain some macros that could infect your PC/laptop. Scan for viruses and malware if you opened it.

Never ever open an attachment unless you are 100% sure it couldn't be harmful.

MaxiRobriguez

If your leading question is "Is this a scam" the answer is 99% of the time YES.

Scam tick list:
- Is it promising an interest rate much higher than any mainstream bank accounts, premium bonds, bonds or other cash-like assets?
- Is the return 'guaranteed?'
- Do they make an aggressive point about being FCSC compliant?
- Do they pressure you to buy?
- Did they contact you out of the blue?

Any of those ticked is a red flag and a very obvious reason to avoid. You match four of them.

MaxiRobriguez

Wolves51 wrote: »

To answer the question as to how I found this company, I was looking for a better return than a cash isa.
I found aecinvestmentsgroup.co.uk

That's a different URL to the one you initially suggested.

It's almost certainly a cloning scam as others have said.

Stick to well know institutions, and don't invest in pie-in-the-sky 'guaranteed' returns.

Wolves51

Fortunately, the spreadsheet was within the email and not an attachment.
So are both websites a scam- the second link I posted had the details of the returns on the bond, and the second website has the dubious address

Ceme3000

And also be aware that they will probably sell on your contact details to other scammers, so be on your guard for more calls and emails.

AnotherJoe

Wolves51 wrote: »

Fortunately, the spreadsheet was within the email and not an attachment.
So are both websites a scam- the second link I posted had the details of the returns on the bond, and the second website has the dubious address

One is a real bond with a good chance you could lose all your money and a high chance you wont get the return promised

One is a site that will pretend to sell you the bond and will instead run off with your money.

Albermarle

I was looking to transfer £20,000 from a cash isa which is earning a tiny interest rate

Now you have kept your £20K and not given it to a scammer , you might want to think about what you should really do to get a better return:
Cash ISA - search for a better rate with another provider
NON ISA savings account - Usually pay a little bit better interest than a cash ISA + no tax on interest nowadays for this level of amount
Stocks & shares ISA - Some risk attached but long term ( >10 years ) should grow more than the savings accounts ( not guaranteed but normally will )
Pension - Adding to pensions is tax efficient and should also grow over the long term . No access to mid/late 50's though.

AnotherJoe

Wolves51 wrote: »

To answer the question as to how I found this company, I was looking for a better return than a cash isa.
I found aecinvestmentsgroup.co.uk
The website seemed so plausible and so I filled in the contact details and in the space of 3 hours, I had 2 missed calls and an email with a spreadsheet of guaranteed returns. I don’t consider myself gullible, but was nearly convinced by them until reading the responses on this thread. Many thanks once again

If you google something like "high interest rate savings" or the like Google will quite happily provide you with a shed load of references many of which are simply out and out frauds.

They dont care they got their ad revenue.

That is a poor way of looking to improve return, you might as well paste a "mug" target on your forehead if you fill your details in on any of these websites you visit.

timclaxton

Following on from this, I have been contacted after an enquiry, By a James Sharpe, saying he was from a company called Nateus. Again offering the Old Mutual at 6.95. I was sceptical and put him off, but he was good on the phone and convinced me to fill an application form to open an account, with no commitment, checked the web site, all looked good. He then seemed to be a little too insistent that this was ideal for me, and I needed to act quickly. I didnt, and after a week he left me alone. Regrettably I filled in the form, and although there were no bank details or anything like that, one question was my Mother's maiden name. Would they be able to sell that information, although I think I know the answer. At least I can warn others about Nateus.

McNinian

Just had a gander at the nateus.co.uk site and it has the look and feel of another clone operation. Their 0203 phone number is the biggest clue as it could easily be a virtual one to convey the wrong impression that whomever's sounding convincing down the blower is speaking from somewhere in London.