Beware of stolen identities

The Pensions Regulator has issued an industry alert about the rise in impersonation fraud, where scammers pretend to be scheme members in order to take over their existing pension accounts. 

They can do this by hacking into emails to get enough information to impersonate you. They then arrange for bank account details to be changed, or for fake pension accounts to be set up in your name, to which funds can be transferred. 

Report Fraud analysis has identified a year-on-year increase in reports of this type of fraud specifically affecting UK pension scheme members who now reside in Africa, from 2016 to 2025, with the sharpest rise occurring in 2025. This trend resulted in significant losses of pension savings, with around £500,000 lost and a further c.£2,500,000 at risk, between 2021 and 2025. 

How to protect yourself 

  • Don’t throw out anything with your name, address or financial details without shredding it first. 
  • If you receive an unsolicited email or phone call, it’s best to hang up. 
  • Don’t leave things like pension statements lying around for others to look at. 
  • If you’re expecting a pension statement, pension quotation or P60 and it doesn’t arrive, tell Aptia. 
  • If you move house, let Aptia know your new address as soon as possible so they can update their records. 

Documents

  • Keep your pension documents in a safe place, preferably in a lockable drawer or cabinet at home. 
  • Don’t throw away your pension documents or even unwanted post in your name. Destroy unwanted documents, preferably by using a shredder. 

Passwords and PINs 

  • Never give your password or login details to anyone – even if it’s someone who says they’re from your bank or pension scheme. Reputable companies would never ask for this information.

There’s more information at Stop! Think Fraud - How to stay safe from scams. 

Stop! Think Fraud is a government initiative that aims to give people the tools and information they need to stay ahead of scams and help protect themselves against criminals. 

There’s also a new reporting service, called Report Fraud, which has replaced Action Fraud to strengthen consumer protections against cyber crime and fraud – you can find it at reportfraud.police.uk 

IF YOU SUSPECT A SCAM 
Act quickly if something feels wrong: 

  • If you’re mid-transfer, contact Aptia immediately 
  • Contact the FCA using their Helpline (0800 111 6768) or online reporting form 
  • Contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (or Police Scotland on 101 if you live in Scotland). 

USEFUL LINKS
FCA Scam Smart
Stop! Think Fraud
MoneyHelper
Age UK 

WE’VE TAKEN THE PLEDGE!
The Sainsbury’s Pension Scheme has taken the pledge to safeguard members against pension scams, which means we’re committed to following the principles of the Pension Scams Industry Group’s (PSIG) Code of Good Practice. We’re following the latest guidance to keep your pension safe – such as educating our members about how to avoid scams and putting extra checks in place if you ask to transfer your pension to another scheme.

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