DH stung in share scam I think, all our money, can anyone offer advice ....

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For the past year DH has been pouring our money (including children's savings) into an overseas registered company who have sold us pre-bought shares ( I don't fully understand it) through their local agent. The promised returns have been very high - 30%, but mostly on paper as DH has reinvested through greed. I told him at the time it sounded like a pyramid scheme but his friend persuaded him all was well. He even put the equity from his buy to let into a holding account (uninvested) of the company. Now we can't get anything out of them. The agent says that the company are not following his instructions to pay out and he is going to give them 21 days notice. I have been wanting to go to Scotland yard but DH won't let me as he says then we definitely won't get our money back and he wants to negotiate a resolution.

I wanted to know if anyone knew of city solicitors good at corporate law who could act for us and get some of our money back. I don't hold out much hope but the stress and bad feeling it has caused is affecting our marriage and children.

Thanks everyone, sorry it's so long and boring.

Look on the watchdog website - this is just a big scam they had a segment of their programme on it last month.

Thanks dinosaur, I will do that. He does have a share certificate, the authenticity of which I couldn't guess on, but that does not cover the uninvested sum he still cannot get. The friend is a friend of the agent. Agent is based in UK but paid his commission offshore. The company is Bermuda based, I think. Sounds terrible doesn't it. I read it back to myself with horror.

You should definately contact the FSA - their helpline telephone number is 0845 606 1234. If the agent is acting in the UK and selling shares/arranging sales of shares then if he is not authorised to do so he is probably acting illegally. This might not help get your money back but the FSA might have some info that helps and the more they know the better they can stop this sort of scam. They might also be able to put you in touch with other victims and if there's enough of you a lawfirm might be persuaded to take on a probono class action.

Hope you manage to recover something.

my brother could also help you let me know xx