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Fraud warning: Prime Defender Group

Fraud warning: Prime Defender Group

We are warning members of the public about Prime Defender Group which displays warning signs of being set up for fraudulent purposes and appears to be a scam. 

We are aware that a member of the public has been cold called by Prime Defender Group. The caller falsely claimed that the individual’s investment had significantly increased in value, and offered to recover these funds, for a fee. This activity is consistent with an advance fee fraud.

Advance fee fraud

Advance fee fraud is a type of scam where the victim is promised a benefit - usually money, investment returns or recovery of lost funds. For this service, the scammers request upfront fees which may increase over time. Ultimately, the victim receives nothing, as the promised funds do not exist.

Warning signs that the activity may be indicative of advance fee fraud include, but are not limited to:

  • unexpected contact (such as a cold call, email or text) from someone who claims to be from an investment firm, recovery service or bank you are told that your investment has
  • significantly increased in value, funds are waiting to be released, or they can recover funds previously lost 
  • requests for payment of fees before receiving any benefit, which may include unusual payment methods
  • pressure to act quickly or urgently  

How to protect yourself

Stop – do not act immediately to unexpected calls, messages and emails, especially if you are being asked to act quickly, or disclose personal or sensitive information.  

Check – contact a firm directly to verify the request and use official contact details, check regulator registers and search company/individual names with ‘scam’ or ‘warning’ within the search term. 

Protect - speak to someone you trust, your bank, or service provider before sending any money to any individual or firm that has unexpectedly contacted you. 

If you think you have been targeted

Please report it to:

  • the JFSC’s Enforcement Division
  • the States of Jersey Police
  • your bank – if you have already made a payment

Fraud prevention resources

You can follow the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum on Facebook or LinkedIn for guidance on avoiding scams and what to do if you think you have been scammed:

For further enquiries, please contact the JFSC’s Enforcement Division.

You can also contact the JFSC’s confidential whistleblowing line on +44 (0)1534 887557.