A recent study has uncovered widespread telephone scams targeting elderly people, especially those over 75 years old.
According to the University of Portsmouth research, many victims report receiving suspected scam calls as often as twice daily, leading them to be suspicious of everyone they interact with.
The study, spanning 18 months and involving nearly 2,000 participants, revealed that two-thirds experienced at least one fraud attempt in the past six months, with nearly 75% of these attempts occurring through phone calls.
Professor Mark Button, who led the study, emphasized that the impact of these scams hasn’t received enough attention.
He noted that traditional methods like landline phones are still heavily used for fraud, despite newer technologies being less frequently employed in such schemes.
Many older adults, aware of these scams, often hang up quickly, but for some, the psychological and financial toll can be significant.
The research highlighted personal stories like that of Dorothy, a 78-year-old widow who fell victim to a scam after being misled into transferring her savings.
She lost £100,000, a devastating blow exacerbated by her recent loss and vulnerability.
Although she eventually recovered most of the money with help from financial authorities, Dorothy described the experience as traumatic and cautionary.
In response to these findings, researchers emphasized the urgent need for better protection measures.
They called for effective call-blocking technologies and widespread education on their use to mitigate the risk posed by fraudsters targeting older adults.
This study underscores the importance of community awareness and proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation through scams.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx92xwzjdndo