Scam prevention scheme educates thousands of elderly people

A scam prevention scheme has seen thousands of older people in Oxfordshire educated on how to recognise and avoid becoming a victim of the crime.

Age UK Oxfordshire has provided personal assistance to more than 370 older individuals and educated more than 3,300 people through scam awareness talks as part of the national programme.

One elderly victim had been scammed out of £7,500 from a fraudulent caller claiming to be from her bank.

The programme was supported by Lloyds Banking Group (Image: Age UK Oxfordshire)

Following the incident, the 87-year-old was referred to the charity's scams advisor, who helped her regain her confidence and protect against future scams.

In another case, a couple's address was falsely used by an individual from China to register a business.

The charity worked with the couple to contact the appropriate authorities and alleviate their worries.

A survey completed by participants of the programme found more than 99 per cent felt more aware of scams, while 99.4 per cent were more confident about reducing the risk of being scammed.

Paul Ringer, CEO of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: "With scams amounting to around 40 per cent of all crime in England and Wales, it’s great news that funding for the programme has been extended for an additional two years.

"While the initial two-year programme has achieved its goals and exceeded them and made significant strides in the fight against scams and fraud, there is continued work needed to create a safer environment."