RISK WARNING

All persons who register as members on the Qardus Website should read the following warnings carefully before deciding to make any investment. All investment products carry risks. The information provided on individual investment opportunities will cover risks specific to each. You should note that the risks described below are not intended to be exhaustive. You should carefully familiarise yourself with each of the risks associated with any particular investment and properly assess whether investing is appropriate in your own circumstances.

Please bear in mind the following general risks involved when investing through the Qardus Website:

YOUR PERSONAL DECISION TO INVEST

A decision to invest in an offer on the Qardus website is a personal decision by you and no responsibility for the consequences of that decision is accepted by either Qardus or ShareIn or by any of its partners, directors, agents, employees or other members. To invest through this Website you need to understand the following important risks.

WHAT ARE THE KEY RISKS?

  • You could lose all the money you invest
    • If the business offering this investment fails, there is a high risk that you will lose all your money. Businesses like this often fail as they usually use risky investment strategies.
    • Advertised rates of return aren’t guaranteed. This is not a savings account. If the issuer doesn’t pay you back as agreed, you could earn less money than expected or nothing at all. A higher advertised rate of return means a higher risk of losing your money. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 
    • These investments are sometimes held in an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). While any potential gains from your investment will be tax free, you can still lose all your money. An IFISA does not reduce the risk of the investment or protect you from losses.
  • You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong
    • Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker here.
    • Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated platform, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protectionhere
  • You are unlikely to get your money back quickly
    • This type of business could face cash-flow problems that delay interest payments. It could also fail altogether and be unable to repay investors their money.
    • You are unlikely to be able to cash in your investment early by selling it. You are usually locked in until the business has paid you back over the period agreed. In the rare circumstances where it is possible to sell your investment in a ‘secondary market’, you may not find a buyer at the price you are willing to sell.
  • This is a complex investment
    • This investment has a complex structure based on other risky investments. A business that raises money like this lends it to, or invests it in, other businesses or property. This makes it difficult for the investor to know where their money is going.
    • This makes it difficult to predict how risky the investment is, but it will most likely be high.
    • You may wish to get financial advice before deciding to invest.
  • Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
    • Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.<
    • A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.
    • TAX

    Qardus and ShareIn recommend that you take your own tax advice on any investments which you make via the Qardus Website. It is your responsibility to make sure that you have paid any and all taxes due in relation to any investment that you make through Qardus.

    RECOMMENDATION

    Neither Qardus nor ShareIn provide advice or make personal recommendations. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take or the details of any particular investment opportunity featured on the Qardus website, you should seek advice from an independent financial advisor authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

    PAST PERFORMANCE

    Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You should not rely on any past performance as a guarantee of future investment performance.

    If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA’s website here.