Frauds and scams:
How to protect yourself

We have observed an increase in attempted frauds and scams targeting our customers and private investors. Often, the fraudsters offering these fake investment proposals impersonate legitimate advisers by mimicking the identity of authorized companies and their employees (trade name, logo, accreditation number etc.). These impersonated companies include Groupama Asset Management.

Groupama Asset Management urges you to remain constantly alert. We remind you that we never make direct unsolicited approaches to the general public or to our customers to propose a financial product or to raise funds.
 

How to identify an attempted scam?

As specified by the French Financial Markets Authority - Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) -  here are 4 warning signs that should raise your suspicions:
 

  1. The person contacting you is unknown to you
  2. The promised returns are very high and have no risk
  3. You are pressurized by the person contacting you to take a rapid decision 
  4. You are requested to issue a direct transfer to a bank account in a foreign country

Reflexes you should adopt to protect against fraud

  • Beware of cold calls: if you receive an unsolicited phone call promoting an investment proposal, do not take up the offer!
     
  • Protect your personal data: your contact details, such as your telephone number, email address, ID documents, bank details or proofs of residence etc., must never be communicated to a website or person that you cannot certify is reliable.
     
  • Do not grant your trust unthinkingly: the people behind these kinds of malicious acts are often well-informed and employ sophisticated methods. The person you are talking to may not be who you think they are. do not take all the information they share with you at face value.
     
  • Check the reliability of your contact: always take the time to think over the proposal and check its veracity. Verify the contact details of the person who contacted you by comparing them to the contact information on the website of the company that they claim to represent. Contact the company to confirm that the approach is legitimate.

To find out more

Several resources for reporting fraudulent practices are accessible free of charge on the AMF website. These resources include:
 

What to do if you think you have been the victim of a scam or fraud:

If, despite our advice, you have been the victim of a scam investment offer, the first thing to do is to submit an online “pre-complaint” (pré-plainte) to the dedicated service of the French government:https://www.pre-plainte-en-ligne.gouv.fr/. Subsequently, you should validate your complaint by signing your statement at the gendarmerie / police station of your choice.

You can also contact the scam information hotline INFO ESCROQUERIES on 0 805 805 817 for information, advice and assistance (free telephone helpline, open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Also if you have received an email or document that you think is suspect, you can forward it to us at the following address: cyberfraude@groupama-am.fr. We will get back to you very rapidly.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided by Groupama AM in this article is of a general nature and does not constitute specific legal advice. 
Also, since the communication methods and techniques used to commit fraud are constantly evolving, Groupama AM cannot accept any liability if the information shared in this article is subsequently found to be inaccurate or incomplete.

 

Frauds and scams:
How to protect yourself

We have observed an increase in attempted frauds and scams targeting our customers and private investors. Often, the fraudsters offering these fake investment proposals impersonate legitimate advisers by mimicking the identity of authorized companies and their employees (trade name, logo, accreditation number etc.). These impersonated companies include Groupama Asset Management.

Groupama Asset Management urges you to remain constantly alert. We remind you that we never make direct unsolicited approaches to the general public or to our customers to propose a financial product or to raise funds.
 

How to identify an attempted scam?

As specified by the French Financial Markets Authority - Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) -  here are 4 warning signs that should raise your suspicions:
 

  1. The person contacting you is unknown to you
  2. The promised returns are very high and have no risk
  3. You are pressurized by the person contacting you to take a rapid decision 
  4. You are requested to issue a direct transfer to a bank account in a foreign country

Reflexes you should adopt to protect against fraud

  • Beware of cold calls: if you receive an unsolicited phone call promoting an investment proposal, do not take up the offer!
     
  • Protect your personal data: your contact details, such as your telephone number, email address, ID documents, bank details or proofs of residence etc., must never be communicated to a website or person that you cannot certify is reliable.
     
  • Do not grant your trust unthinkingly: the people behind these kinds of malicious acts are often well-informed and employ sophisticated methods. The person you are talking to may not be who you think they are. do not take all the information they share with you at face value.
     
  • Check the reliability of your contact: always take the time to think over the proposal and check its veracity. Verify the contact details of the person who contacted you by comparing them to the contact information on the website of the company that they claim to represent. Contact the company to confirm that the approach is legitimate.

To find out more

Several resources for reporting fraudulent practices are accessible free of charge on the AMF website. These resources include:
 

What to do if you think you have been the victim of a scam or fraud:

If, despite our advice, you have been the victim of a scam investment offer, the first thing to do is to submit an online “pre-complaint” (pré-plainte) to the dedicated service of the French government:https://www.pre-plainte-en-ligne.gouv.fr/. Subsequently, you should validate your complaint by signing your statement at the gendarmerie / police station of your choice.

You can also contact the scam information hotline INFO ESCROQUERIES on 0 805 805 817 for information, advice and assistance (free telephone helpline, open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Also if you have received an email or document that you think is suspect, you can forward it to us at the following address: cyberfraude@groupama-am.fr. We will get back to you very rapidly.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided by Groupama AM in this article is of a general nature and does not constitute specific legal advice. 
Also, since the communication methods and techniques used to commit fraud are constantly evolving, Groupama AM cannot accept any liability if the information shared in this article is subsequently found to be inaccurate or incomplete.