Top tips to help you avoid financial scams after the M&S data breach

Read our brand-new guide filled with key information, tips and insights to keep you safe from financial fraud

You may have seen the recent headlines about Marks & Spencer (M&S) and the significant cyberattacks the retailer has been a victim of, causing immense disruption to its online operations and costing an estimated £300 million in profits.

In this case, scammers have stolen key customer information, which the BBC reported could include names, email addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth, and are using this data to scam people through a process called “social engineering”. This involves them pretending to be an authority, such as your bank or the police, and using the small amount of information they have illegally obtained to trick you into giving away more of your personal details, or even steal money from you. 

Even if you are not an M&S customer, the story may have left you feeling concerned about being contacted by fraudsters and scammed yourself.

When it comes to financial fraud, knowledge is power. That’s why we’ve produced a brand-new guide, featuring everything you need to know about scams and how to avoid them.

The guide contains all kinds of useful insights into scams, including:

  • The cost and impact of scams on victims
  • 10 common scams and how to spot them
  • How to spot a cloned firm, and five signs of a pension scam
  • Why people fall for scams, and how you can prevent yourself from being a victim
  • Who to turn to if you’re worried about scams.

To read more about scams and staying safe, download your copy by clicking the button below.

Download the guide

If you’d like to speak to us about keeping your wealth safe and secure from fraud, please get in touch today.

Your guide to the new Inheritance Tax and pension rules

Did you know that from 6 April 2027, most pensions will be included in your estate when calculatingInheritance Tax? The shake-up is expected to lead to an additional 10,500 estates becoming liable for the tax in2027/28, and around 38,500 estates will pay more tax due to the reforms1. As, under existing rules, pensions offer a […]

Read more

Why reacting to headlines could be holding you back from long-term growth

Recent headlines from home and abroad have painted a somewhat chaotic picture. The UK has just inaugurated its seventh prime minister in a decade, geopolitical tensions have been mounting in the Middle East, and there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the growth of AI and technology markets. If you were to read the news, you would […]

Read more

Why knowing what’s “enough” is the key to a successful financial plan

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that more is always better. More growth, a larger investment portfolio, or bigger business sales all seem appealing. However, without a clear endpoint, the pursuit of “more” can quickly become an endless uphill climb. In fact, this journey could leave you feeling financially anxious, regardless of […]

Read more

When should you start building an estate plan? 3 different perspectives

Research reported by Today’s Wills and Probate notes a major disconnect between when people believe they should start building an estate plan and when they actually do. Indeed, the average age at which people begin their estate planning in the UK is 61. While reaching your sixties can be a trigger as retirement nears, starting […]

Read more