Paul Davies is supporting Scams Awareness Month this May, and is calling for greater protection to be provided to older people from scams. Figures from the Alzheimer’s Society show 15% of carers reported that the person they cared for had been the subject of some kind of financial scam and yet sadly, the Office of Fair Trading estimates that only 5% of scams are reported.
Mr Davies said, “I’m pleased to support Age Cymru, who is working with Trading Standards and Citizens Advice in Wales to raise awareness of scams during Scams Awareness Month. We must do all that we can to ensure that vulnerable older people are made aware of the threat of scams, especially people living in particularly rural areas across Pembrokeshire. Older people who are targeted by these scams can become alienated from their families and lose their life savings and their homes – and so I’d encourage everyone across Pembrokeshire to support Age Cymru’s campaign and help raise awareness of scams.”
Gerry Keighley from Age Cymru added that, “Age Cymru’s research shows that more than 2,500 scams were reported to Trading Standards in Wales between February 2012 and February 2013, but this figure could be the tip of the iceberg. The Office of Fair Trading believes that only 5% of scams are ever reported. That means up 50,000 scams could have been committed. Older people should be able to live in dignity and security and be free of this type of exploitation.”
