“Anyone can be vulnerable,” said Tracey Firth. “It might be because you’ve lost a partner, you’re lonely, or you’ve just had a bad week. That’s when scammers strike.”
The Scams Community Engagement Officer with Age UK East Sussex was speaking at The Hub on Rye Hill, one of the many community groups that use the building offering advice and support. She sees at first hand the damage scammers can cause, not least from romance fraud.
“The scammers will spend four to six months building trust before they ask for money,” she explained. “They groom people and its really horrible.” She recently supported a local person who had lost £16,000 to a scammer posing as a well-known public figure. Her biggest case saw an East Sussex pensioner conned out of £280,000.
“These scammers are cruel and vile. They don’t care who they hurt,” she said. “When I work with a client it’s not always about getting the money back, it’s also about helping them rebuild their confidence after they’ve been betrayed.”
Tony, not his real name, lives in Rye and has been a victim of romance fraud. “They started asking for small amounts of money but it soon got to the stage where they were asking for more and more. Then they started blackmailing me. It was horrible but the police were very good and when I told the first officer I spoke to I’d been stupid he said, ‘No you’re haven’t, you’re a victim’. I still get emails and calls from people trying to get money out of me.”
“Scammers have always been a problem,” said Tracey. “But now they’re latching onto whatever is in the headlines and getting more sophisticated all the time.” Recent examples include fake messages claiming to be from the NHS, the Department for Work and Pensions or local councils, offering refunds, testing kits or other services in an attempt to steal personal and banking information.
She said anyone can be a victim, but her advice is very clear. “If you’re not sure, stop. Give yourself five minutes before you click on anything. That feeling you’ve got is usually right. Trust your instincts and think twice when you get unexpected text messages, emails or calls.”
As well as visiting The Hub on Rye Hill, Tracey also talks to community groups where people can ask questions about the latest scams or seek reassurance if something doesn’t feel right. “People don’t even have to come to me because they’ve been scammed,” she said. “They can just come for a chat and ask what the latest scams are. I’m just a phone call away.”
Anyone concerned about a potential scam can contact Age UK East Sussex on 01273 476704 for advice and support.
Image Credits: James Stewart .