New Study Reveals Two Out of Three Older Individuals Have Fallen Victim to Scams, Prompting Urgent Action
A recent study conducted by charity Re-engage and the University of Portsmouth has uncovered alarming trends about scams targeting older people. The research involved 1,177 participants and revealed that two out of three older individuals have been victims of scams in the past year, resulting in heightened fear, depression, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.
The study found that approximately one-fifth of those surveyed reported weekly attempts to defraud them, with 40% experiencing illegal approaches every month, primarily through telephonic methods. This has led to Re-engage calling for immediate action to combat these alarming trends.
With 50% of the older population surveyed not using the internet and 70% never engaging in online banking due to concerns about potential hacking, Re-engage is advocating for comprehensive training for professionals to recognize signs of vulnerability to scams among older individuals. The charity is also urging the government and other relevant bodies to allocate funding for high-quality call blockers designed to protect older people from such scams.
Laura Joplin, head of impact at Re-engage, expressed concern about the emotional impact of these scams on older individuals, stating that “the scale of intimidation and fear unleashed on older people by these scams and frauds is really shocking,” contributing to feelings of isolation and damaging the quality of life. Professor Mark Button, co-director of the Center for Cybercrime and Economic Crime at the University of Portsmouth, highlighted the need for increased awareness of the issue and emphasized that urgent action is needed to give older individuals the proper level of protection.
The study underscores the urgency of addressing this issue, protecting older individuals from scams, and raising awareness to prevent further victimization. Urgent action is crucial to ensure that older individuals feel safe and secure in their own homes.