Information on Fraud and Investor Security

At AllianceBernstein, we’re dedicated to protecting the safety and integrity of the personal information of our investors with robust security processes.  We consider information security key to supporting our aspiration of being the most trusted investment firm and offering client peace of mind.

Consistent with these aspirations, our Online Guidance for Clients has been prepared to assist AB clients in securing their personal online account.

Fraud and scams come in many different guises and internet scams are increasing, particularly in the finance industry.  At AllianceBernstein, we encourage investors to be as vigilant as possible to protect their investments and think very carefully about the risks that criminal activity poses to their financial well-being. Here is what to remember if you are solicited by someone claiming to act on behalf of AllianceBernstein.

Websites

Fake or cloned websites are becoming increasingly common.

These fraudulent websites and their content are not legitimate and have been created fraudulently using authorized cloned company details to convince unsuspecting consumers that they are genuine.

They may look like the real thing and may even have a web address that is very similar to the AllianceBernstein address. On closer inspection, however, the differences can be spotted, which is why it is so important to remain vigilant.

When accessing the AllianceBernstein website, please check the URL address to ensure it correctly identifies AllianceBernstein, https://www.alliancebernstein.com. The letters "https" will be displayed in front of the website address in the browser's navigation bar, and you can click on the padlock symbol to reveal our registration certificate, which has been issued by DigiCert, Inc., a leading provider of security solutions.

To protect our brand integrity and the interests of our investors, we regularly monitor websites that register and use similar URL addresses to ours.  Where we suspect fraudulent activity, we take appropriate steps to ensure the early detection and removal of these malicious websites.

We also recommend that you check the details provided by local regulatory authorities.  Many also provide useful advice as to what you need to look out for and how to check whether a company is authentic.

• US Securities and Exchange Commission
  https://www.sec.gov/investor/alerts
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  http://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams/investment-scams/cloned-firms
• Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF)
  https://www.cssf.lu/

Emails

AllianceBernstein does not solicit individual investors directly, and we will never send you a subscription form for an investment offer.  Any investment advertisement issued by AllianceBernstein will direct clients to our websites—www.alliancebernstein.com—to obtain more information.  We will not conduct any investment contracts online or by email.

Also watch out for unsolicited calls and emails or letters offering unusually profitable investment opportunities. Emails from fake domains may also be used to spread malicious content and should not be opened.  Exercise extra caution when it sounds too good to be true. The chances are that it probably is.

Social Media Scams

Please be advised that fraudsters may also try and target you through messaging and social media services such as WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook, Instagram and X. It is not AllianceBernstein’s practice to solicit or engage in business through these platforms. It should also be noted that AB does not currently transact in cryptocurrency or related products for clients.

If you have been:

1.       Contacted via a messaging service by someone representing to be employed by AB about a “guaranteed” or “quick” investment opportunity;

2.       Instructed to download an investment/crypto application through social media to trade with AB; or

3.       Offered a job opportunity from someone representing AB and then asked to make a payment

You may be involved in a scam.  These are not AB’s business model or practices. If you think you have been involved in one of these scams we recommend that you report the unsolicited messages to the social media/messaging platform as soon as possible. If you have sent any funds, contact your bank immediately and report the matter to your local law enforcement and/or financial regulator as soon as possible. 

Reporting

If you think that you have been contacted by someone claiming to be from AllianceBernstein and you suspect fraudulent activity, we recommend that you take the following steps:

Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: Contact AllianceBernstein immediately if you think you’ve fallen for a scam and report it to us. Speak to your bank as soon as possible if you believe you have transferred money to a scam. Depending on where you are in the world, there may be other options to report to the local law enforcement agencies.

If you come across anything that causes concern, or if you have received an email claiming to be from us that you believe is not genuine, please email fraud@alliancebernstein.com.