Beware of the latest bank phone scam
Older people are being urged to be alert to one of the latest banking phone scams.
Age Scotland, the national charity for older people, says the scam – which involves the caller cloning a bank’s telephone number to lure the customer into believing they are talking to their bank – could have devastating consequences for anyone who falls victim to it.
During the current Scams Awareness Fortnight, which runs until Sunday, Age Scotland is asking older people to be more ‘scam aware’ and ensure they know how to spot the warning signs that someone is trying to defraud them.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people targeted by scammers, including older people and those with long-term health conditions.
Brian Sloan, the chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “Anyone of any age can fall victim to a scam, but we know that older people are disproportionately targeted. These attempts are heartless and sinister.
“As fraudsters become more and more sophisticated it is becoming harder to spot the telltale signs of a scam. Someone who lives alone and who has limited social contact may not be able to discuss a letter, email or a phone call they have received with someone else, to work out if it is real or not.
“Falling victim to a scam can have a huge emotional impact as well as a severe financial one. People could lose their life savings with a few clicks of a button.
“It is vitally important that older people are aware of the type of scams circulating including on the phone, online or on the doorstep, and know what to do to protect themselves. Reporting scams, those that are successful and attempts, is hugely helpful in trying to catch the fraudsters and helping others avoid them in the first place.
“There is a lot of support available to people. Age Scotland has up-to-date scam awareness guides available which outline what to look out for in a scam and how to respond. Older people can also call our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 for information and advice on how to stay safe.”