Protect Yourself from Cyber Criminals

🔐 Cyber Security Matters

Cyber criminals are increasingly target pension scheme members to obtain personal, financial and pension information.

Your pension is one of your most valuable assets. Criminals may use emails, text messages, phone calls, social media, fake websites or QR codes to trick you into sharing personal information or account details.

The Trustee and its advisers take the security of member data seriously, but everyone has a role to play in staying safe online. Being alert to potential cyber threats and taking simple precautions can help protect your personal information, your pension savings and your identity from fraud.

Below you'll find guidance on common cyber threats and practical steps you can take to stay secure.

Common Cyber Threats

Phishing Emails

  • Emails asking you to click links or open attachments.
  • Requests for passwords or personal information.
  • Messages requesting changes to bank details.

Smishing

  • Fraudulent text messages containing links or requests for information.

Vishing

  • Telephone calls from fraudsters pretending to represent pension providers, banks or government bodies.

Identity Theft

  • Criminals using stolen information to access accounts or commit fraud.

Quishing (QR Code Phishing)

  • Fraudsters use QR codes in emails, letters, posters or text messages to direct individuals to fake websites.
  • The QR code may appear to relate to a pension provider, bank or trusted organisation.
  • Scanning the code could lead to a fraudulent website designed to steal personal, financial or login details.

📱 Before scanning a QR code, consider whether you trust the source and verify where the link will take you. If in doubt, visit the organisation's website directly rather than using the QR code.

⚠️ New and Emerging Threats

Criminals are increasingly using QR codes, fake websites and AI-generated communications to impersonate trusted organisations. Always verify requests for personal, financial or pension information using official contact details before responding.

How to Stay Safe Online

✅ Use strong, unique passwords.

✅ Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) where available.

✅ Keep devices and software up to date.

✅ Never share passwords, security codes or authentication details.

✅ Be cautious when clicking links or opening attachments.

✅ Verify unexpected requests using trusted contact details.

✅ Regularly monitor financial and pension accounts for unusual activity.

🛑 STOP • THINK • CHECK

STOP before responding to unexpected messages.
THINK about whether the request is genuine.
CHECK by contacting the organisation directly using trusted contact details.

If You Think You Have Been Targeted

  • Change your passwords immediately.
  • Contact your bank if financial details may be compromised.
  • Notify the Trafalgar House if pension information may be affected.
  • Report cybercrime to Report Fraud if you are in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. (Residents in Scotland should report directly to Police Scotland by calling 101).

🔔 Important Reminder

The Trustee, Trafalgar House and advisers will never ask you to provide passwords, security codes or complete pension transactions through unsolicited emails, text messages or telephone calls.

📞 Not Sure?

If you are ever uncertain about a communication relating to your pension, contact the Trafalgar House using the official contact details published on this website before taking any action.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLEGENCE HEALTH WARNING – Tips for using AI

It is very tempting to use an AI tool to find out what your financial options could be rather than a regulated financial advisor – please consider the following before doing so:

Do not share your personal details with AI

AI isn’t like a solicitor or financial advisor and has no confidentiality rules.  You also never know if your conversation will stay private – including the risk of your personal information being stolen in a data breach.

Be wary of trusting financial advice from AI

AI can get things wrong and it can’t be held accountable if it does.  It’s also unlikely to understand all the ins and outs of your personal circumstances and your pension benefits.

If you need help with financial planning, speak to an authorised financial advisor

It’s always worth paying for a professional advisor who will look at your whole financial position as well as your goals.