It may only be 14p... but refund is genuine

L.S. writes: I am sending you copies of a letter and claim form, received from Jupiter Unit Trust Managers. I have never heard of the company or spoken to anyone from it. Do you think it is a scam? I do.

I CAN understand why you think the letter is a scam. It tells you that Jupiter is sitting on the grand sum of 14p in an account in your name and invites you to complete and sign a claim form giving the name and address of your bank, together with the sort code and account number.

All of these details could well be useful to a fraudster. But, believe it or not, the letter is not a scam at all. Jupiter is a genuine, well established investment firm. One of its staff told me you did in fact make an investment in 1998, which you redeemed in 1999.

She explained: ‘Mr S was eligible for a tax credit, which we received after he sold the account, meaning that he had a very small balance remaining.’

You would have been sent a cheque for 14p at the time, but it was never cashed.

Jupiter will now be in touch again and you can claim the 14p or donate it to Jupiter’s chosen charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.