voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
voluntary organisations, social enterprises and volunteering
-
New guide helps Scots seniors safeguard their finances as online scams soar
Created: 02/10/2024
News/Events Category: Technology
This item will show under the following categories: Health and Social Care
With statistics this year from Age Scotland showing that over 400,000 older people living in Scotland have been targeted by scammers, it has never been more important to protect yourself and others from falling victim to fraudsters. Crimes include crypto currency, scam text messages and fake phone calls or e-mails impersonating trusted organisations such as banks.
While a rapid rise in cases were seen across all age groups, older people are particularly more susceptible. Incidences of fraud crime against this age demographic in Scotland are rising, as scammers take advantage of their relative unfamiliarity with technology, and potentially more trusting nature.
To mark International Day of Older Personsr, Scottish charity the Cyber and Fraud Hub has relaunched its Older Person’s guide to encourage older residents to be vigilant when it comes to online scams. Originally produced by the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, A Guide to Avoiding Fraud and Scams for Older People addresses some of the most common forms of cyber and fraud crime, and will be distributed through local community networks as well as being available online.
The guide aims to empower older adults to navigate the digital landscape safely and securely, and provides insights into common online scams, identifies red flags to watch out for, and outlines steps to take in case of suspected fraud. The Cyber and Fraud Hub is the first charity of its kind in Scotland, offering comprehensive support tailored specifically to individuals affected by cyber and fraud crimes. The Hub is built on strong relationships with Police Scotland and the banking sector, and its mission is to ensure that members of the public across Scotland receive the support they need when they are most vulnerable.
Since the Cyber and Fraud Hub launched, the team has dealt with around £250k of crypto frauds across all age groups and stopped or prevented around £60k from being transferred to fraudsters. Victims of crypto currency scams usually engage with individuals who are unknown to them through unsolicited approaches on WhatsApp, Facebook or dating apps, for example, or click on links by AI generated celebrities supposedly promoting crypto scams.
Other common scam and fraud attempts affecting older people most commonly include telephone scams, banking scams, WhatsApp family and friends impersonation scams, parcel delivery scams and investment and pension scams.
Click here to access the guide.
What now?
See other news/events in the Technology category
Go to the main News page
Tell us about your own news
News/Events Categories:
Children and Families (83 items)Climate/Environment (19 items)
Community Events (45 items)
Consultations (6 items)
Employability (20 items)
Funding and Finance (59 items)
FVA News (8 items)
General News (28 items)
Governance (16 items)
Health and Social Care (80 items)
Job Vacancies (10 items)
Partnerships, Networks and Forums (37 items)
Social Enterprise (1 item)
Technology (1 item)
Training and Learning (55 items)
Volunteering (65 items)
Go to the main News page
