Scam Awareness

Scam Awareness Week 2026

Scams can happen to anyone. But unfortunately, older people are often targeted more frequently.

Home Instead is proud to support this year’s “Take Five Week”, running from 27th April- 3rd May. The week, run by UK Finance, is an opportunity to shine a light on the growing issue of scams and share practical steps to stay safe.

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.

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.

Tips to protect yourself from scams

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.

Key contacts

Report to Report fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 for support