The credit crunch seems to have increased the number of plausible sounding people who ring you to offer shares over the phone. The police are warning the public to be very cautious as the criminals involved are intelligent and devious, and can also be very intimidating.
Every week at least l00 people are informing police of losing from tens to thousands of pounds, having been called by seemingly genuine firms offering shares that turn out to be non-existent, or in unstable or nearly bankrupt companies.
Pensioners who have seen their saving diminish recently may be tempted to invest, or those just made redundant, and they will almost certainly lose everything.