No one likes to feel that they have wasted or, even worse, been conned out of their money. Unfortunately, there are plenty of situations in which you can be acting in good faith and suddenly find you’ve come off worse from a transaction. We use the word ‘scam’ to indicate a dishonest or fraudulent scheme designed to cheat someone. It could be anything from buying products or services, to making investments or becoming involved in apparently failsafe business propositions.

Older people can be an attractive target for scammers, not least because they are more likely to have easily accessible savings than younger people. Some older people are isolated and may not have anyone to go to for advice. Also, the older generation may be less likely to have access to the internet as a checking tool, although this is increasingly less true. Most of us can protect ourselves from scams if we have the right information and advice. What about carers, friends or relatives? If you are concerned that someone you know is being tricked, or is buying unsuitable products and services, you can look out for warning signs such as unusual amounts of post or evidence of large cash withdrawals; offer advice and support – reassure the person that this is a common problem and can happen to anyone.
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