| As the elderly and vulnerable self-isolate, they can be at an increased risk of scams. There have been recent reports in the UK of people offering a shopping service for isolated people where they take payment in advance and then never return with the goods. Please be vigilant to this and only give money to people you know and trust such as family and close friends. If you are at home more often it is good to be aware of other issues such as hoax calls, identity scams and distraction burglaries. If someone phones you or visits your home and you don’t know who they are please don’t share your personal details with them. Even sharing basic details with someone you don’t know, such as your name, can help someone commit identify fraud. Crime prevention tips:Fit a chain on your external doors to reduce the likelihood of someone gaining access to your house if you open the door.If someone comes to your door and you don’t know who they are, lock the door if you need to make a call to verify their identity.If you receive a call and you are concerned that the person you are speaking to is a fraudster use another phone to call and report this. Sometimes scammers have technology to divert your phone calls on the line they called you on originally and they will pretend to be a reputable organisation to obtain your personal details fraudulently.If you are unable to leave the house make sure you only give money for shopping to trusted people such as family or close friends. To report fraud or to find more prevention tips visit www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. |
| Message Sent By Emma Ray (Police, Community Engagement Assistant, Staffordshire) |
