(Update May 2023 below)

Thank you for passing on the USS' reports that it has experienced a data breach relating to Capita.

I can confirm we are also monitoring these and the press more generally and we appreciate that the further recent news reports about Capita's cyber incident will be concerning to members.

In relation to the AXA UK Group Pension Scheme, I can confirm that Capita are continuing their investigation into whether any AXA UK Group Pension Scheme data may have been compromised in the incident.  In their latest and most recent update (as of Friday 12 May), they have informed us their investigations are ongoing and they will require some more time to complete this exercise.

Pending Capita's report, we continue to actively monitor the situation and work closely with them as they continue to work through their exercise. As you know, we have published an announcement on the scheme website.  Since the investigation remains ongoing at this time, we thought it would be helpful to update this with some simple general data security tips for members (also set out below).  

We will continue to update this page when relevant new information is made available to us, so please continue to check this page from time to time if you want further information regarding the incident. [I am currently arranging for Capita to update the Trustee website page, but we will have it loaded up in line with this message very soon].

We remind members to be extra vigilant for unusual activity on their accounts, including suspected phishing emails, and other potential scams and/or fraudulent activity.  We're also reminding people:

• If you receive an unsolicited call or other contact from someone, only give out your personal information if you are happy that the person contacting you is who they say they are
• Be careful with unexpected emails or texts, especially if they that ask you to click on a link or enter your login details or passwords
• Check your bank statements for any signs of unusual activity in recent weeks and consider checking for any new credit files or credit searches in your name which you don't recognise
• If in doubt – stop and think.  Hang up or end the conversation if you need to.  Contact your bank or financial services provider directly if you are unsure.

If someone thinks that may have been the victim of a scam, or that someone has attempted to carry out a scam, there are a number of things they can do:

If you receive a suspicious email, your email provider should normally offer you an opportunity to forward it to them as a scam alert.  You can also forward emails to report@phising.gov.uk.

Suspicious calls or text messages can be reported to Action Fraud on the phone number above or by text to 7726.

If you receive a suspicious letter, contact the sender in another way to check it with them.  For tax and national insurance, HMRC's helpline is 0300-200 3300 (+44 135 535 9022 outside the UK).

It should be stressed that the Trustee takes the responsibility of protecting member data very seriously. The AXA Pensions Team is available if you have any other queries pensiontrustees.uk@axa-uk.co.uk

With kind regards

John Manuel APMI
Head of Pensions Administration & Trustee Services
AXA UK plc

May 2023