Warning to shareholders.

“Boiler room” scams

1 September 2011

It has been bought to our attention that our shareholders are being contacted by someone purporting to be from a US investment firm offering to buy William Hill shares. We do not consider this to be a legitimate approach and would advise shareholders to remain vigilant at all times. Please see the warning below for further information on what should do if you receive any unsolicited investment advice.

If you have any queries, please e-mail ir@williamhill.co.uk.

21 May 2010

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has recently reported a dramatic rise in the number of enquiries they have received relating to share scams. The "boiler room" scam has developed over recent years and there has been an increase in reports of overseas fraudsters contacting shareholders to sell and buy shares using the names, registration numbers and addresses of authorised firms and individuals in an attempt to convince consumers of their legitimacy.

These fraudsters, commonly known as "boiler rooms", have prompted the FSA and City of London Police (CoLP) to issue a new warning and they have contacted those they believe to be affected. A copy of the letter that has been issued by the FSA and CoLP can be found on both FSA and CoLP websites.

Last year the FSA received calls from over 3,100 people who had been contacted by boiler rooms. Of these, 734 had become victims, losing an average of £24,000 each.

Different types of scams

• Offers to buy shares you already hold, often at a higher price than their market value.
• Encouragement to sell your blue chip shares in banks and financial institutions to invest in green or high technology shares marketed by the boiler rooms.
• Offers to buy shares in US companies that turn out to be "Regulation S" (or Rule 144) shares ie they can only be sold to non-US citizens, and often have other limitations.
• Offers of help from "recovery rooms" who offer assistance to those defrauded by boiler rooms. They approach victims of boiler room fraud and, for an upfront fee, promise to review their case and obtain reimbursement from a European Court fund or other legal avenue.

Avoid becoming a victim of fraud

• Remain vigilant – be very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or offers of free company reports.
• Check that anyone who is offering to sell your shares is registered with the FSA. You can check this at
  www.fsa.gov.uk/pages/register/.
• Call the company back using the details found on the FSA register to verify their authorisation.
• Inform our Registrar Computershare on telephone number 0870 703 6251.
• If calls persist, hang up.

If you have received any unsolicited investment advice or think you may have been contacted in relation to a possible scam, the matter should be reported to the FSA by calling 0845 606 1234, or visiting www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.