Under pressure from a cold call

I was a local bank manager for 23 years. I decided to leave that job as I’d become unhappy with the role and what was expected of me. I found it very hard to find a job with a similar salary, and became self-employed.

I faced so many pressures as a result of this and I ended up having a breakdown. My marriage broke down and our house was sold when I was divorced. With my share of the money I bought a modest terraced house and had a small amount of money left over.

The cost of a cold call

It was towards the end of my recovery period – I could see the light at the end of the tunnel but I wasn’t quite there – that I had a cold call about an ‘investment opportunity’. I don’t know how they made contact with me. All the paperwork looked very impressive – it was beautifully typed and on high quality paper. They said they were in the business of buying property in London to turn in to luxury flats, and were offering a fixed return of 8%.

The first interest payment didn’t materialise. Whenever I phoned them, it just said the line had been discontinued. I reported it to the police, who said that sadly I was one of many people who had been taken in by this and there was very little chance I’d get my money back. I didn’t hear any more from the police about it in the end.

Now I’m ultra-cautious

As an ex-bank manager I felt like an absolute twit for falling for this, even though I was at a low point when it happened.

I’m now ultra-cautious – even more cautious than you’d expect a bank manager to be! I’ve never mentioned this to my daughters as I wouldn’t want them to think less of me.