Protect yourself from fraud

Fraudsters are targeting members of the public with unsolicited emails, letters, calls, and text messages pretending to be from BNP Paribas Asset Management UK. Often impersonating our employees and using illegitimate email addresses and websites. Most of these scams promote fraudulent investment bonds and other financial products. These bogus investments are frequently found on phoney comparison websites using online search engines.

The email addresses and domains used will often resemble our genuine details, but they are frequently misspelled.  

Fraudsters continue to use misspelt variations of our official domains and email addresses to circulate scams. Below are some examples of email addresses / domains which fraudsters use:

• info@bnppamclient.com
• @bnp.info
• @bnppltd.com
• Client-bnpam.com
• connect-bnpam.com

The UK regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), will publish notifications of clone websites, including fraudulent contact details to raise public awareness. This includes any cases which may impact our firm.

WhatsApp has increasingly been used by fraudsters impersonating BNP Paribas Asset Management UK and its employees to promote fraudulent investment products. WhatsApp messages or group chats are used to lure unsuspecting victims through social media posts such as Facebook, or Instagram. Fraudsters will impersonate senior employees providing investment advice sometimes with the support of fake customers, to pressurise victims to invest promptly.

Fraudsters will often create social media profiles of friends or businesses which seem genuine to promote scams by posting adverts, testimonies, quizzes, or links to fake websites, which are designed to get you to hand over personal information or money.

BNP Paribas Asset Management UK does not promote any of its products through social media or messaging services such as WhatsApp. If you have been targeted by scams like this, do not send any money and stop engaging with the fake contact.

Unsolicited communications (including, emails, letters, telephone calls, text messages or in person):

• The use of ‘Dear Customer’ instead of using your actual name.
• Spelling mistakes and poor grammar e.g., the use of symbols like apostrophes and semi-colons that look out of place.
• Use of language which suggests an urgency to act.
• Poor formatting of the text and the use of a distorted Company logo.
• Containing very little text in the actual email, just a hyperlink to a website.
• Using an image of text rather than text itself.
• BNP Paribas Asset Management UK does not engage in any unexpected form of cold calling, and we will not request account or personal details including any form of payment over the phone.
• BNP Paribas Asset Management UK will never hold in person meetings outside of its registered address or agree to do home visits.   

Fraudulent Websites:

• Misspelt website addresses, similar to official webpages.
• Fraudsters will aim to get their cloned sites at the top of Google rankings, to increase exposure and mislead the public into thinking these are genuine websites due to ranking positions. 
• Poor formatting of website texts, company logo and ability to navigate the page.

WhatsApp and Social Media:

• WhatsApp and social media messages including fake adverts which promise lucrative returns.
• Direct messages sent from unknown senders claiming to represent BNP Paribas Asset Management UK .
• Being messaged or added to WhatsApp groups where you do not recognise individuals or mobile numbers which are typically international numbers.
• Redirection to fraudulent webpages or provision of fraudulent email addresses.
• Use of promotional materials fake adverts, some with the image of, for example the CEO and certificates.
• Poor formatting of the text and the use of a distorted Company logo.

Please note that fraudsters are always finding new ways to contact victims, and this should not be considered an exhaustive list. Always remain vigilant and verify any communication.

• Never respond to emails asking for personal or financial information about yourself. BNP Paribas Asset Management UK will not ask you for personal or financial information this way.
• Never reply to unexpected emails including those where you do not know the sender. Ensure that you refrain from opening attachments within these emails.
• Do not click on links within emails as they could take you to fraudulent websites instead type the address into your browser.

Use the web address from official correspondence you have with the company and type it in yourself, rather than clicking on a link sent via email or other means. 

When you click through to a genuine site, you should also see a padlock symbol to the left-hand side of the address bar. The website the address should begin with “https” and the padlock symbol should be displayed.

To verify the identity of an authorised firm, ask for its FRN (Firm Reference Number) and contact details. You can check if a financial services firm is authorised by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) website (https://register.fca.org.uk). Always call the firms registered telephone number noted on the FCA register to confirm any product or service being sold to you. 

• Use a strong and unique password for each social media account and ensure that it is long and contains numbers, letters and characters.
• Set up 2-step verification, also known as 2-factor authentication that gives you an extra level of protection by asking for more information to prove your identity.
• Social media privacy settings – make sure your privacy options are configured so that it’s only visible to the people you want to see it, for example only your friends.
• Check before you accept friends and follower.
• Be careful what you share online – try not to share too many personal details that a fraudster could use to build a picture of you. They can use facts such as your birthday, where you live, family relationships or pet names to steal your identity or make their fraud more convincing.

Do not engage with unknown contacts, messages, group chats where you do not recognise individuals or mobile numbers via WhatsApp. 

Always act with vigilance and with caution when receiving unexpected contact. If in doubt, please contact us.

AXA Investment Managers (recently rebranded as “BNP Paribas Investment Management”) would like to warn our clients and the public of impersonation fraud involving the fraudulent use of our details. 

We have been informed of fraudulent communications and documentation circulating in which a company called “Finvoire” falsely claims to be associated with AXA Investment Managers.

These communications promote investment services and portfolio management products that AXA Investment Managers does not offer to retail investors (i.e. individuals). The documentation circulating includes a portfolio management contract, trading account arrangement and references to investment services allegedly provided by AXA Investment Managers. Specifically, the fraudulent documentation contains the following characteristics:

• Use of the name “Finvoire” claiming to operate from AXA Investment Manages address at 22 Bishopsgate in London.
• A portfolio management contract (“Gestion Sous Manal”) referencing client investment management services.
• References to a minimum investment of €130,000.
• References to a temporary loan of €113.00 to facilitate trading activity.
• A three month investment mandate promising optimisation of returns while limiting market losses.
• Request for funds to be transferred to accounts controlled by the fraudster which are not associated with AXA Investment Managers.

The fraudulent entity has used documentation referencing the following address:

22 Bishopsgate

AXA IM ALTs

London

United Kingdom

Important: Fraudsters are regularly changing company names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and websites as part of these scams.

AXA Investment Managers has no association with Finvoire and its details are being used without authorisation as part of the impersonation.

If you are contacted by a company claiming to represent Finvoire or claiming to offer investments linked to AXA Investment Managers:

Report the matter to your local police or national fraud authority.

Do not send money or personal information.

Stop all communication immediately.

Contact your bank immediately if you have already sent funds.

AXA Investment Managers UK (AXA IM UK) would like to warn the public and our clients of impersonation fraud and the fraudulent use of its name.

Unsolicited emails and calls circulating in the public domain impersonating AXA IM UK . The fraudulent commination is offering illegitimate Fix Rate Bonds under “AXA Framlington Global Technology Fund”. Fixed Rate Bond” with the following rates:

• 1 Year Fixed Rate: 5.5%
• 3 Year Fixed Rate: 6.7%
• 5 Year Fixed Rate: 8.2%

The details used by fraudsters as of 24 October 2024:

• axabonds.com
• accounts@axabonds.com
• Tel : 0044 20 4525 4634 and 0044 20 3514 7032 and 001 561 908  6171.

Note: Fraudsters regularly change these details, if in doubt please immediately contact us. 

AXA IM would like to warn the public and our clients of impersonation fraud and fraudulent use of its name.

Unsolicited emails are circulating in the public domain impersonating AXA IM. The fraudulent emails contain illegitimate information on “AXA Sustainable 8.6% Fixed Rate Bond” which also includes a link to request a brochure.

Fraudulent details being used as of 26th September 2023:

• knowyoucan.co.uk@mail331.bms6.bmsend.com
• knowyoucan.co.uk@mail332.bms6.bmsend.com
• mail@knowyoucan.co.uk

Note: Fraudsters regularly change these details

Fraudsters are falsely claiming to be AXA Investment Managers employees, Tesco PLC or Tesco Personal Finance offering a One Year Fixed Rate Bond with a rate of 3.919% pa.

Fraudulent website and email address/domains being used:

• www.tescofixedincome.com
• bondoffer@tescofixedincome.com
• @axa-fixedincome.com

Note: Fraudsters regularly change these details

Impersonation / cloned firms – AXA IM UK – Fixed Rate ISA Bond

Fraudsters are purporting to be employees of AXA IM UK and providing their details in the Top Wealth Bonds comparison website (https://www.topwealthbonds.com) or advertisements placed in the national press and on social media.   

The FCA have published a warning regarding Top Wealth Bonds who they believe are providing financial services or products in the UK without their authorisation.  These individuals are offering a Fixed Rate ISA Bond with rates of return increasing with the length of time that the Bond is held.

Fraudulent email address/domains being used:

• enquiry@private-axa.com
• legal@document-axa.com
• eqnuiry@privateretail-axa.com
• enquiry@privertretail-axa.com

Note: Fraudsters regularly change these details