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Scams and older people Louise Hughes Safeguarding Programme Manager

Scams and older people Louise Hughes Safeguarding Programme Manager. Financial abuse in Wales. 21% of adult safeguarding referrals in Wales are about financial abuse Issues include; wills, theft, property, misuse of power of attorney, befriending, taking benefits

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Scams and older people Louise Hughes Safeguarding Programme Manager

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  1. Scams and older people Louise Hughes Safeguarding Programme Manager

  2. Financial abuse in Wales • 21% of adult safeguarding referrals in Wales are about financial abuse • Issues include; wills, theft, property, misuse of power of attorney, befriending, taking benefits • Almost 70% of advocacy services for older people in Wales said financial abuse is the most common form of abuse they deal with • Complex situation to deal with when family are involved and the person has capacity

  3. Scams • A scam is a scheme that is designed to con people out of their cash

  4. Statistics • The Alzheimer's Society published a report called 'Short Changed:  Protecting people with dementia from financial abuse', 2012 • 40% of older people in the UK with dementia are regularly targeted by scam mail some of whom have lost money by entering competitions. • 15% had been approached by rogue traders or had unnecessary work done. • 70% were routinely targeting by rogue traders over the telephone. • 62% had been approached by unscrupulous cold callers or doorstep sales people. • In June 2011 the National Fraud Authority published their report on victims of fraud.  • women over 66 on low incomes are particularly vulnerable to fraudulent offers • the total fraud loss for UK women over 66 year old is £0.32bn, with £0.26bn spent on foreign lotteries and £0.06bn spent on prize draw scams. • In 2006 the Office of Fair Trading published 'Research on impact of mass marketed scams'.  • It concluded that a victim has a 30% chance of falling for another scam within the following 12 months

  5. Research • ‘Short Changed: Protecting people with dementia from financial abuse’ Alzheimer’s Society 2012 • National Fraud Authority report on victims of fraud, 2011 • ‘Desperate times, desperate consumers’ Citizen’s Advice 2011 • ‘ The psychology of scams: Provoking and committing errors of judgement’ Office of Fair Trading 2009 • Office of Fair Trading report ‘Research on impact of mass marketed scams’ 2006

  6. Types of scams • Prize draw wins • Fake foreign lotteries • Bogus psychic predictions • Telephone scams • Miracle health cures • Investment scams • Doorstep crime • Internet scams • Fake bank security emails • Phishing for identity • Foreign money offers • Online dating

  7. Scams and UK Consumers • 380,000 people each year fall victim to prize draw scams • Office of Fair Trading research estimates that UK consumers lose about £3.5 billion to scams each year • BUT ..... Less than 5% of people report scams to the authorities

  8. Impact • ‘Suckers lists’ – responding to one scam can lead to chronic victimisation especially amongst vulnerable consumers • Older people are more likely to be targeted by a scam and older people are likely to lose larger amounts of money

  9. Common Traits • They are unsolicited • They promise something for nothing • They want money upfront • They seem too good to be true – and they are! • They are perpetrated by criminals who have no regard for the welfare of the victims

  10. Effects on the Victim • They often feel a loss of confidence, self worth, anxiety, depression • Feelings of guilt for falling for a scam • Fear that someone knows where they live • Mental and physical health can deteriorate • Debt • Become estranged from family and friends • Becoming addicted to the scam mail • Irrational belief that they will win something soon • Older people on average lost twice as much as other age groups with many becoming ‘chronic’ scam victims

  11. Identifying chronic scam victims • Lots of junk mail being received • House full of cheap goods, jewellery, clocks, calculators • Frequent calls from strangers • Mood swings • Withdrawing from family and friends • Secretive about finances • May be a victim of other crimes; doorstep crime

  12. Preventative approaches • NATIONALLY • Age Cymru Scams Toolkit • Partnership working • Scambusters • Doorstep crime campaign • Training and awareness sessions • ‘Think Jessica’ Campaign • Conferences • Media • LOCALLY • Trading standards • Scambusters • Community Safety Partnerships • Advocacy services • Holistic approaches by adult social services

  13. Scams and dementia project • 2 year Comic Relief funded project • Partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society • 2 volunteer co-ordinators • Trained volunteers and advocates • Awareness raising workshop sessions • 6 areas across Wales

  14. Contact Details • Louise Hughes • Safeguarding Programme Manager • Louise.hughes@agecymru.org.uk • Ffion Jones • Safeguarding Programme Administrator • Ffion.jones@agecymru.org.uk • Age Cymru • St Andrews Park • Queens Lane • Bromfield Industrial Park • Mold • Flintshire • CH7 1XB • 01352 706228 • www.agecymru.org.uk

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