Elder fraud and scams – staying safe in later life

Written by Zenya Smith • 10/11/24

Scams often go unreported

Research suggests that many older people who fall for scams may not report the crime due to shame or embarrassment. It's estimated that only a small percentage, approximately 5% of incidents are ever reported.

The different types of scams

Scammers may obtain personal and financial information through various types of fraud, here is a list of the most common types.

Phone scams

Scammers may pose as legitimate companies or financial institutions and request sensitive information such as birth dates, bank details, or passwords from their targeted victims Other common scams conducted via a phone call include –

Pretending to be your bank and claiming there’s been unusual activity on your account. The scammer may try and convince you to move your money into a different account to keep it ‘safe’ while they investigate, however this is a way for them to steal your money.
Claiming there is a problem with your computer and they need remote access to fix it. and ask for remote access to it. Once they have access, they can either take important files ‘hostage’ or claim they require an upfront payment to fix a technical error that doesn’t exist.
Claiming to be from from HMRC saying there’s an issue with your tax refund or that you have an unpaid tax bill. They may also threaten criminal action if you don’t pay.

Online scams

The most common type is phishing scams. This where a scammer attempts to gain access to personal information through ‘phishing emails’ – usually by enticing you to click on a link and enter your personal information into a fake website. These scam emails often use logos or branding from recognisable companies, and use pressure tactics of suggesting you’ll lose money or be charged a fee if you don’t follow the instructions in the email.

Romance scams

This is when cybercriminals use deceptive tactics to gain trust and obtain sensitive information or money by posing as someone else. This can often involve gaining emotional trust from the victim, so they can easily commit financial fraud by making a request for money, or asking for presents such as gift cards.

These scams often prey on loneliness and emotionally manipulate the victim, for example in some cases the scammer will claim they have a large medical bill that they can’t afford to pay, or claim they need money for travel to visit their victim.

Scam text messages or ‘smishing'

This involves impersonating credible businesses through text messages, aiming to steal personal details or financial identity and data, or encourage them to download malicious software onto their mobile devices.

Scam text messages almost always include a false link to a form for the receiver to click on and leave their information. In recent years there’s been a rise in scammers posing as parcel delivery companies – text messages will state that they’ve been unable to deliver a package or require additional postage costs.

Scammers may also claim to be a son or daughter who has lost their phone or is facing an emergency and needs financial help quickly.

Cost of living scams

With the rising cost of living there has been a rise in scam texts claiming to be from the UK Government with instructions on how to apply for benefits such as the Cold Weather Payment, Cost of Living payment or Warm Home Discount. The UK Government will not text you out the blue about these payments. Only apply for these benefits via the Government website.

Postal scams

These can take on many forms, including letters requesting money, messages from supposed clairvoyants, claims of lottery wins, and Ponzi schemes, all crafted in a cleverly-written manner by scammers.

Door-to-door scams

These often usually involve a person offering household products or maintenance services at an inflated price. However, doorstep selling isn’t always a scam, many reputable companies and charities do go door-to-door – often enlisting third-party sales companies to do this on their behalf. In these instances, they should always have a verifiable form of I.D.

However, it can be easy for older people to feel pressured into purchasing something they don’t need, or signing up for donations they can’t afford, especially if they are living with cognitive decline. Any purchase made from a reputable company is protected by consumer rights laws, and if it’s over £42, they are required to offer a 14-day cooling-off period.

Investment scams

Investment scams often target older people because many have built up assets and savings over their lifetime. The scammer will convince an individual to invest in a ‘low-risk’ venture with guaranteed returns. Often the thing they’re investing in doesn’t exist, and the scammer will be evasive when answering questions while asking for increasing sums of money.

Pension scams

Fraudsters may contact you with ‘to-good-to-be-true’ offers, such as promises of being able to help you get more than the usual 25% of your pension pot tax-free, or accessing your pension before you turn 55 in exchange for a fee. They may also encourage you to put your pension in a single investment – something financial advisors will rarely suggest. Pension scams use high-pressure tactics to push you to make a decision very quickly.

Scams on social media platforms

Scammers can access personal information shared on social media platforms like Facebook. This includes not just obvious information, but even a photo of a driving license can give away personal data. Even sharing photos while on holiday can let fraudsters know that the person is not at home, allowing them to snoop if they know their address.

One tactic common on Facebook is to gather information via quizzes. These quizzes will often ask you for things like your month or year of birth, pet’s name, or the first street you lived on – and give you a personalised result based on the information you provide. However, while this may seem like harmless fun, the specific information they’re asking for mirrors common security questions used for online account recovery – allowing scammers to impersonate people and access their accounts.

Help from a professional carer

If you’re worried about an older person being vulnerable to fraud or scams, arranging regular visits from a professional companionship carer can provide peace of mind and help keep a loved one safe.

As well as providing a helping hand with everyday life, a visiting carer can –

Step in and offer support if a loved one is being pressured over the phone
Help them with technology and staying safe online
Sort post and flag anything that looks like a scam, such as prize draws or bogus bills
Answer the door to unexpected visitors and check they are who they claim to be
Raise any suspicious activity with family members as soon as possible.

How to recognise a potential scam

While common scams are getting more sophisticated there are still a lot of tell tale signs to look out for.

They contact you out of the blue. Scammers rely on cold calls to find their vicitims. If you’re not expecting a call, it’s important to approach what the caller is saying with caution. And, while companies may occasionally call you unexpectedly, for example if your bank’s spotted usual activity on your account, it’s recommended you hang up and call them back using the contact details you have saved for them, to check the call is coming from them.

The person you’re talking to cannot provide proof of identity. If presented with an I.D., it’s a good idea to ask them to wait and contact the company they’re claiming to be from using the phone number from their official website (not a number they give you themselves). Official representatives of a company will not mind waiting while you validate their information.

They request sensitive personal information or documents, such as bank account details or and card number. For example, if someone is on the phone saying they’re from the person’s bank or financial institution trying to provide financial assistance, they should hang up andcall the advertised number of their bank to ask if this is true. A bank will never ask you to confirm your pin number.

If emails or text messages contains spelling mistakes, or doesn’t look right. Spelling errors, blurry logos and other inconsistencies can all indicate a fake email or text message. If the link they’re asking you to click and the email address the message was sent from doesn’t match the official company website, this is strong sign the email is a scam. Other signs to look out for are if the link includes a string of random letters or numbers, and doesn’t contain HTTPS at the beginning of the link.

If the suspicious email has come from a personal email address such as ‘outlook’ or ‘Gmail’ this is unlikely to be from a credible company or business.

Avoiding and reporting scams

Don’t be afraid to say no. A genuine company will never pressure you to do something you’re not comfortable doing.

Protect yourself from nuisance calls by getting a caller ID device, or registering with the free Telephone Preference Service (TPS). You can do this for both a landline and mobile phone line to reduce the number of unwanted calls you receive.

Check your phone line. Scammers can sometimes keep your phone line open after you’ve hung up – this can allow them to listen in, which can be problematic if you call the legitimate company straight away to check whether the call was genuine or not. Try calling someone you know to check the line is free, or wait 20 minutes before using the phone to ensure th scammer has hung up.

Report suspicious text messages. You can report them directly from your mobile phone by forwarding the message to the UK’s scam reporting service on 7726.

Answer your door with the chain on. And always ask to see I.D. You can also buy a ‘no cold callers’ sign online to display by your front door.

Set up a password with your utility company. The company will ensure anyone they send round to your home for legitimate reasons can provide the password to prove they’re genuine.

Never give out your personal or financial details over the phone. Especially if the call is unexpected.

Don’t use the contact numbers or information they provide. This could be another scammer on the other end of the line who’s job it is to convince you the scam is real. These numbers are also often premium rate and can cost upwards of £4 per minute – look out for numbers starting with 09. If you want to confirm something is real, use the contact details on their official website or a legitimate letter you’ve received in the past.

Join the Scam Marshal scheme. You can send them your scam mail which can help them track and build a case against scammers

Steps to take if you have fallen victim to a scam

The following tips are practical and can be applied to anyone, not just elderly relatives.

Remain calm.
It’s recommended to keep a record of phone conversations, emails and and scam messages for documentation purposes. The more evidence you have of the fraudulent activity the better.
Contact your bank or credit card company using the number on the back of your bank card straight away. Their fraud teams are available to assist you.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of fraud, you can contact Action Fraud, which serves as the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in the UK. You can also contact Citizens Advice for additional guidance on what to do after you’ve reported a scam.
Checking your credit score is recommended to identify any changes resulting from suspicious activity.The Equifax Credit Report & Score is free during a 30-day trial, followed by a monthly charge of £10.95, and provides individuals with unlimited online access to their borrowing history and score – so you can be sure whether you’ve been a victim of credit card fraud or other financial scams.

Visiting care