Elderly are five times more likely to be hit by fraud than be burgled
I felt violated by bank scam says TV Gloria
Being scammed seriously affects people’s quality of life and wellbeing, according to the report, Applying The Brakes.
Many people experience shame, embarrassment, social isolation, depression and a decline in physical health, it found.
Some pensioners lose their life savings, while those defrauded in their own homes are more likely either to die or go into residential care within a year.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “However tough our laws are to prevent and combat fraud, they are pretty toothless if the staff just aren’t there to enforce them.”
Government funding cuts means “fraudsters have far more freedom to operate”, she added.
As well as extra money for trading standards and police officers, Age UK is also calling on banks to take action to prevent scams.
It wants them to radically improve security systems to better identify customers at risk and suspicious transactions.
And it said they should better protect the vulnerable – such as those with dementia – and bear a greater level of liability for customer losses.
The Daily Express Respect For The Elderly crusade has consistently urged greater investment in social care. TELEVISION presenter Gloria Hunniford said yesterday she has felt “violated” by a £120,000 bank scam.
A woman claiming to be the 77-year-old star, who co-presents BBC consumer affairs programme Rip Off Britain, withdrew £120,000 from her savings account in 2015.
The fraudster walked into a Santander bank in Croydon, south London, with a young woman and a man she said were her daughter and grandson.
After speaking to a personal banker, she produced a fake driving licence and drained £102,000 from the account. A further £18,000 was later withdrawn.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, Ms
WHERE TO GET HELP
FEELING AT RISK? Age UK offers information and advice including its free guides Avoiding Scams, Staying Safe and Internet Security. Visit ageuk.org. uk/avoidscams or contact Age UK Advice on Freephone 0800 169 65 65. Tips include how to spot doorstep rogues. ALREADY A VICTIM? Online help is available, again from ageuk.org.uk on its “support for scam victims” page. Tips include contacting your bank immediately to have cards stopped. There are also links to support if you feel traumatised by what has happened. REPORTING SCAMS? Call Action Fraud, the UK’s National Fraud and Cyber Crime reporting centre on 0300 123 204. Or if you or anyone else is in immediate danger dial 999. Hunniford, pictured left, said: “What I don’t understand is how these strangers can go in and get my money signed over to them quicker than my husband or I could.”
Santander refunded her the full amount but it was too little, too late for Ms Hunniford, who says she has lost her trust in banks.
“You end up feeling absolutely violated,” she said. “I am naturally a trusting person but sadly I don’t trust any bank now.”
Police caught the fake grandson Alan Dowie, 18, and an accomplice, Reyon Dillon, 18, who received stolen funds.
Both were found guilty last year but avoided a jail sentence.
The two women involved in the scam have still not been identified.