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Nearly five million older people have been targeted by scammers

Published on 24 July 2017 12:00 AM

This Scams Awareness Month, Age UK has warned that older people are particularly at risk of being scams victims, with over two-fifths saying they've been a target.

Just over a tenth of older people have then gone on to respond to a scam.

Single people and over 75s at greater risk

Among single people, over a quarter had responded to a scam. They were also more likely to proceed to paying the scammers. 16% of single people had given over money, compared to only 6% of married people.

Over a fifth of those who weren't in a relationship had also given their personal details to scammers. Only 2% of married people had done this.

Age is also a big factor in falling for a scam. People over the age of 75 were more inclined to give scammers their financial or personal information.

What stops people coming forward?

More than a fifth of people who had been targeted admitted to not telling anyone at all because they felt too embarrassed.

Most people who did admit to being scammed only told their friends and family instead of an official channel.

If you're worried you've been scammed, report it to Action Fraud

Scams can even affect physical health

Scams can cause older people to lose their life savings and can really affect their quality of life. It's sadly common for older people who've been scammed to suffer from depression and isolation, and some even become in need of more care.

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Last updated: Dec 05 2018

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