Elderly people being targeted by hideous scam - what to know

Elderly people being targeted by hideous scam - what to know Figures from Report Fraud show reports of courier fraud increased nearly 10% year-on-year - the latest way crooks are trying to target people Elderly people are being especially targeted by a heinous scam known as courier fraud. It can typically start with a phone call out of the blue from someone claiming to be a police officer or from the person’s bank. In the former, the caller may tell them they are at risk of fraud - ironic given they are the crooks - then asking them to help catch those responsible. There have even been examples where the criminals have turned up at people’s homes with fake warrant cards. Their aim is to try and suck their victim into trusting them enough that they agreed to withdraw money, make purchases or write down sensitive information. The courier element comes in when someone arrived to collect the money or item, only to never be seen again. One example involved a person persuaded to stay on the phone while they went to London’s Hatton Garden - famous for its jewellers - where they bought a Rolex watch. Figures from Report Fraud show reports of courier fraud increased nearly 10% year-on-year, rising from 1,721 in 2024 to 1,891 in 2025. Over the same period, total losses climbed from £19.5million to more than £21million. A key feature is the disproportionate targeting of older people, particularly those aged 70 and above. It is just the latest in a constant wave of frauds, with crooks and scammers using every tool in the book to try to ensnare their victim. Another emerged last week when Santander raised the alarm about a Father’s Day scam ahead of Sunday. In this case it included a “Hi Dad” impersonation scam, where fraudsters targeted potential victims via WhatsApp, text or an AI-generated phone call, pretending to be their child requesting money or to make a payment. Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, said: “As a parent myself, I know how busy life gets - juggling kids, work and a social life – and fraudsters often target people when they know they might not have time to properly consider what they’re being asked to do.” Big events are another source of rich pickings for fraudsters. Examples range from the World Cup to concert tickets. According to Confused.com, Brits lost more than £10.8million to ticket fraud in the last year, as scammers targeted fans desperate to secure seats for concerts, festivals and major sporting events. Ticket fraud typically involves criminals advertising fake, duplicated or non-existent tickets, leaving buyers out of pocket and unable to attend the event. It comes as a recent report from industry body UK Finance revealed criminals stole nearly £1.3billion through payment fraud in 2025, an increase of 4%. Highlighting the scale of the issue, it warned fraud continues to operate on an “industrial scale” and was what it called a national security threat. Protecting yourself and others from courier fraud - Your bank or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account. - Your bank or the police will never send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuables such as jewellery. - Contact the organisation directly using contact details you know are correct, such as those on official websites, the back of your card or by calling 159 for your bank. - Don’t trust the Caller ID display on your phone - it’s not proof of ID. - You can report suspected scam calls by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the caller’s number - If you think you have been a victim of fraud contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 Protect against ticket scams - Buy tickets from official sellers or reputable resale platforms. - Be wary of heavily discounted tickets or sellers creating urgency to secure a sale. - Avoid paying by bank transfer, as recovering money can be more difficult if you’re scammed. - Check whether the platform offers buyer protection or refunds. - Ask for proof of purchase and verify ticket details before making payment. - Research sellers and avoid newly created social media accounts with little activity. Buy tickets from official sellers or reputable resale platforms.