Aviva life insurance scam ?

Ali55n

Hi I wonder if anyone can help ? My FIL has been contacted supposedly by Aviva, to say there is around £300.00 to claim from a policy my mil had. 

Now mil has died over 23 years ago and they had divorced and she had remarried. So we would be talking about maybe 35 to 40 years ago.  They say he needs a copy of mil death certificate to claim. But would he really be entitled to something from that long ago as she was divorced and remarried ? 

The phone number he was given is 08009520353 which we can’t seem to find on the Aviva website, and the address he was given for Aviva seems to relate to equity release. 

I would welcome any thoughts as we were thinking scam but because it’s Aviva we are not sure !

Newly_retired

Personally I would not call the number given. To get anywhere with this you are going to need to provide lots of detailed information, which you certainly don’t want to be giving to a scammer. 

Maybe go through Aviva website initially, on their online chat and try and get a human being to call you to take it further?

Ali55n

Thank you - have tried their online chat and they won’t confirm or deny that the phone number is an Aviva one.
thank you for replying. 

Keep_pedalling

Just because the number is not a publicly advertised one does not mean it is a scam.

The number does seem to belong to Aviva, it is mentioned in this old thread from 2015.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5222183/warning-to-pra-fca-aviva-not-fit-for-authorisation-to-conduct-pensions-business

noitsnotme

Just get an up to date phone number from their website and call them on that one.  Explain the letter you’ve received and ask if it’s legitimate.

We were contacted recently by Aviva regarding an old policy for a relative that passed away 4 years ago.  After providing all the required documentation, they have just paid out a 5 figure sum.

Ali55n

Thank you. It just seems so strange that after all this time the policy would still pay out. I guess we tend to think scam immediately nowadays when someone says you can get money! Thanks again 

ButterCheese

I would try and call Aviva on their advertised number, and see where you get.  They should at least be able to tell you if they have contacted your FIL without breaching any terms of confidentiality.

I had similar with an old bank account that I hadn't used for 15 years.  I phoned Nationwide and said is this legit, and they were able to tell me yes.  So I then took all my details into the branch and claimed my £47

Ali55n

Many thanks. Will try and contact them that’s a good idea. 

dunstonh

Now mil has died over 23 years ago and they had divorced and she had remarried. So we would be talking about maybe 35 to 40 years ago.  They say he needs a copy of mil death certificate to claim. But would he really be entitled to something from that long ago as she was divorced and remarried ? 

Yes he would.

The phone number he was given is 08009520353 which we can’t seem to find on the Aviva website, and the address he was given for Aviva seems to relate to equity release. 

Aviva used to use Capita for policy tracing.  I haven't seen one recently but its normal for telephone numbers not to match the general service lines.

I would welcome any thoughts as we were thinking scam but because it’s Aviva we are not sure !

No harm in ringing it and seeing what is said.   Being on guard should allow you to spot any signs of a scam.

Thank you - have tried their online chat and they won’t confirm or deny that the phone number is an Aviva one.
thank you for replying. 

There is no way for Aviva call centre staff to know every Aviva telephone line in existence.  

Thank you. It just seems so strange that after all this time the policy would still pay out. I guess we tend to think scam immediately nowadays when someone says you can get money! Thanks again 

Not strange.    Providers are required to try and trace people on lost policies.   Finding people today is easier than it was in the past.    Aviva used to use Capita for the tracing.    I don't know if they still do as I haven't seen one of these for a while.

I would try and call Aviva on their advertised number, and see where you get.  They should at least be able to tell you if they have contacted your FIL without breaching any terms of confidentiality.

Unless the OP knows the policy number and rings the right call centre, that would not yield a result.   Aviva is not just Norwich Union operating out of Norwich any more but a range of other legacy insurance companies and they still operate a number of the legacy companies out of their own call centres.  The staff at those call centres, can only see policies that they have access to.  Not those at the other offices.