Scams can happen to anyone. But sadly, older people are often targeted more frequently. That’s why Scam Awareness Week, running from 12th – 18th May, is an important moment to shine a light on this growing issue and share practical steps to stay safe.

At Home Instead, we’ve been championing fraud prevention for over a decade, and as a partner of UK Finance, we’re helping raise awareness of being scam savvy through their ‘Take Five Campaign.’

We’ve been actively promoting scam awareness by delivering training to our Care Professionals and raising awareness in local communities through events, workshops and public campaigns.

The key message? Stop. Challenge. Protect.

It’s all about helping people pause, think twice, and protect themselves before handing over any money or information. These three steps can help prevent someone from falling victim to fraud, whether it’s a phone call from a fake bank, a suspicious text message, or someone turning up on the doorstep with an all too convincing story.

Why Older People Are More at Risk

Scammers are often highly manipulative and sophisticated, and unfortunately, they tend to target those who may be more vulnerable. That includes older adults, particularly those:

Living alone or feeling isolated
With memory loss or cognitive conditions such as dementia
Who may be less confident using digital technology
Carrying cash or managing their own finances
Unfamiliar with the tactics scammers use

And the impact of fraud isn’t just financial. Many people may experience:

A loss of confidence and independence
Embarrassment or shame
Fear of speaking up or asking for help
Long term effects on emotional wellbeing

At Home Instead, we train our Care Professionals to spot the warning signs of fraud and provide reassurance, support and practical help to clients and their families.

Common Types of Scams

Knowing what to look out for is key to stopping a scam before it starts. Here are just a few of the most common tactics used by criminals:

Impersonation scams – claiming to be from a trusted organisation, such as a bank or government body.
Courier fraud – tricking people into handing over cards, cash or PIN numbers to a ‘courier’.
Investment scams – offering high return through crypto schemes, pension transfers or fake bonds.
Romance scams – building fake relationships online to emotionally manipulate victims.
Online and purchase scams – selling fake goods or asking for money for items that never arrive.
Doorstep scams – pressuring people into unnecessary home repairs or bogus charity collections.

What to Do: Stop. Challenge. Protect.

The Take Five campaign offers three simple steps to help prevent fraud:

Stop – Take a moment before sharing personal or financial details
Challenge – Ask yourself could it be fake? It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore requests.
Protect – If you think you’ve been targeted, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud.

The following tips are what UK Finance advises people live by in everyday life to prevent getting scammed and mitigating the situation if it ever happens to you:

Avoid disclosing security details – Never give personal information such as your PIN or card number over the phone or in writing.
Emails, phone calls and texts may not be authentic – Criminals can get hold of all your details, from your address to your mother’s maiden name. Don’t assume that just because someone has a full picture of you, they are genuine.
Contact organisations directly – If you’re speaking to someone and have doubts, hang up and contact the organsiation yourself using a known email or phone number
Stop and challenge unexpected requests – If you get a request for money unexpectedly, don’t be afraid to question it. It’s ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests.
Protect others by reporting fraud and scams – It’s heartbreaking being the victim of a scam. Reporting it can help, you can help recover your money, catch the criminals responsible and prevent it from happening to someone else.

You can also:

Report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk
If you’re in Scotland, you should report it to Police Scotland by calling 101
Forward scam texts to 7726
Report phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 for support

Care Professional Coffee and cake afternoon at the Barnyard cafe