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<p>The Government is committed to protecting people from pension scams, and pursuing
those who perpetrate pension scams wherever possible. That is why the government established
Project Bloom, a joint taskforce between government, regulators and law enforcement
to share intelligence, raise awareness of scams through communications campaigns,
and take enforcement action when appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>Regulations to ban pensions
cold calling came into force in early January 2019, using the Privacy and Electronic
Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR) as a legal framework. Firms who break the rules
could face penalties of up to half a million pounds. As well as deterring cold callers
by making their activities illegal, the cold calling ban makes it clear to the public
that any pensions cold call they receive is illegal and likely to be a scam call.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government also recently amended PECR to allow fines on individual directors
who consent to or connive in or neglect to prevent serious contraventions of PECR
by their organisation(s). The new measure came into force in December 2018. This measure
gives the Information Commissioner the power to impose civil monetary penalties of
up to £500,000 on those in positions of responsibility in all forms of corporate entities.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, the Government has recently provided the National Trading Standards
Scams team up to £640,000 for the roll out of call blocking devices, free of charge,
to vulnerable people, including old aged pensioners. The National Trading Standards
launched this project on 15 October of this year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>
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