Scandal of scams against older people and how to avoid them

I wrote a few weeks ago about a rather nasty incident of pressure selling experienced by my friend Eve.

Another of my friends, Liz who is an advice worker, has just got in touch asking me to draw attention to several scams currently being perpetrated against older people – particularly concerning to anyone caring for someone at a distance.

As Liz says : “Having seen people in distress, it’s an issue I’d like to see publicised as much as possible”.

One example is a scam targeting elderly and vulnerable residents across Surrey obtaining their bank details by calling and claiming to be from their bank. In previous cases the caller has told the victim there is a problem with their bank card and it will need replacing, also asking for their bank details, PIN number and balance, and that a courier will be round to pick up the faulty card and replace it with a new one. A person dressed as a courier then arrives at their front door to take the card.

Another tactic has been to leave a “we have missed you” notice claiming to be from the bank asking the victim to ring the number.

Warwick District Council has recently reported that Trading Standards are also currently dealing with more than 200 complaints about people claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug-in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills.

Trading Standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings.

Ron Gainsford from the Trading Standards Institute said: “Consumers are warned not to use the product as they pose a risk of fire and electrocution and a safety recall has been issued for the items traced so far. Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash strapped consumers – elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted.”

Action Fraud reports that UK citizens lose around £2.4 billion every year as a result of scam mail. Sent by professional fraudsters, scam letters are designed to con recipients into investing in bogus schemes such as fake lotteries, share frauds and inheritance scams. They depend on persuading victims to hand over money based on promises of valuable goods, services, or benefits that are never delivered. After replying to a ‘tempter’ letter, victims’ names can be put on a ’suckers list’ which is then sold to other fraudsters. Chronic victims include some of the most vulnerable people in society, some of whom end up being hounded with terrible consequences

This is all very alarming but there is some good advice about how to protect yourself and those you care for against scams on the Directgov website. This includes how to recognise scams, how to deal with them and how to reduce the risk of being involved. It is a worthwhile read for everyone – the reason why scammers are so successful is that they are both persuasive and credible and it’s not just older people who can find themselves on the “suckers list”.

For more information, go to http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Consumerrights/Protectyourselffromscams/DG_195960 or http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/