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International Federation on Ageing Conference, Prague 2012

Financial Protection from Scams

Louise HughesElder Abuse Programme Manager

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Scams

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

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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

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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

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Scam Mail

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Prize Draw Scam

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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

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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

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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

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Preventative approaches

• NATIONALLY– Age Cymru Scams Toolkit– Partnership working– 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

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Contact Details • Louise Hughes• Elder Abuse Programme

Manager

• Louise.hughes@agecymru.org.uk

• Ffion Jones• 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