Security

Fraud Warnings

Guardian Financial Services is a well known and respected brand. For this reason the 'Guardian' brand name and 'Owl' logo are attractive to fraudsters. In the past they have been used as part of a scam.

The 'Guardian' mark and Owl logo are registered trademarks in the UK owned by Guardian Financial Services. They are used solely by Guardian Financial Services.

We don't offer new products or services. So you should be suspicious of any offers like these that seem to be from us.

Common scams

Most scams work by getting you to pay an 'up front' fee for a service. By using a well-known brand the fraudster tries to persuade you that it's a genuine offer. Also, the fraudster may ask for your personal or bank account details. They will then use these to steal your identity or take money from your account. Some common examples to be aware of are:

  • Loan or mortgage offers – the fraudster asks you pay some kind of fee (such as an arrangement fee or insurance premium) before you collect the loan.
  • Prize draws – you're told you've won a prize draw that you're certain you never entered. This may be used as a ploy to get you to part with a sum of cash before you receive your prize, or you may be asked to disclose in full your personal bank account details.
  • Calls offering a refund of interest on a loan – calls from a third party claiming to be able to obtain a refund of interest paid on a loan. The caller would ask you to disclose your bank details so that they can 'pay the refund to you'.
  • 'Money services' employment vacancies - these are adverts for 'jobs' which require you to use your own personal bank account to transfer money in and out, and offer to pay 'commission' for doing so. These scams are part of a criminal money laundering operation.

Remember, if an offer appears to be too good to be true, it usually is – don't respond to any unsolicited communication which promises money in return for making a payment.

Our security checks

When you phone us we carry out security checks to make sure it's really you we are talking to, so your personal details don't fall into the wrong hands.

However, we'll never ask you for your full bank details in any security check we make.

Reporting security concerns

Please contact us immediately if you:

  • suspect fraud on your Guardian policy.
  • are worried that a phone call, letter or email that appears to be from us may be fraudulent.
  • have responded to a suspicious phone call, letter or email and are worried your personal details have fallen into the wrong hands.

Call us on 0845 948 9000 (local rate) or email us at uks.life.servicing@guardianfs.co.uk

Useful links

You can also report details of any suspected scam to Action fraud, the UK National Fraud Reporting Centre.

You can get useful tips on how to help protect your identity on the Identity Theft website. This has been set up by the Home Office, City of London Police and other public and private bodies to combat the threat of identity theft.