A scam of the elderly and other vulnerable adults is still a notable concern of loved ones and relatives.
A scam is a type of fraud in which someone steals your money or information. You can be scammed online, in person, over the phone, or through the post. Scams can be difficult to recognise but there are things you can look out for.
Recognising a scam
It might be a scam if:
- It seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s significantly cheaper than you’d expect it to be
- Someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
- You suspect you’re not dealing with a real company
- You’ve been asked to transfer money quickly
- You’ve been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by vouchers or wire transfer
- You’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
If you are unsure let the company know you will ring them back at a more convenient time, check the number before ringing back by looking at previous correspondence, check postal address.
Top tips:
- Make sure that you shred all documents that could be useful to criminals – these will be things like bank statements, utility bills, and other important documents.
- Remind elderly friends and family members that they should never provide personal information over the telephone, unless they initiated the phone call.
- Ensure that a ‘No Cold Calling’ sign is placed visibly by the front door of an elderly person.
- Educate your elderly relative or friend about the risk of becoming prey to email and phishing scams.
- Keep an eye out for differences in behaviour or lifestyle of those who could fall victim to scams. They may have been affected and be unable to let you know.
There are organisations that can give you emotional support if you’ve been scammed.
The Samaritans
If you’re having a hard time and want to talk to someone, you can get in touch with the Samaritans.
Their helpline is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
You can:
- call the Samaritans for free on 116 123116 123
AGE UK
If you’re elderly, or concerned about an older person, you can get free, confidential advice about scams from Age UK.
Their advice lines are open from 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.
You can: call Age UK for free on 0800 678 1602
