WCYT

THE Alzheimer’s Society has revealed shocking news that more than 100,000 people, 15% of those with dementia, have fallen victim to scam mail, cold calling or mis-selling.
It’s disgusting that unscrupulous people are preying on the most vulnerable people in society, extracting cash by persuading sufferers to sign up for products and services they don’t understand, don’t need and don’t really want.
Chief executive at the Alzheimer’s Society Jeremy Hughes said: “We are merely scratching the surface of the frightening hidden depths of financial abuse.
“Too often con artists are dealing another blow to people who already face high care costs and a society that fails to understand their needs.” People with dementia are at great risk of being ripped off as they often don’t have the mental capacity to recognise potential warning signs they are being swindled.
Add to this the fact that many are not able to communicate the fact they have been deceived and things can spiral out of control with people thousands of pounds out of pocket. A report from the Alzheimer’s Society, Short changed: Protecting people with dementia from financial abuse, is urging Trading Standards to crack down on scammers and cold callers.
They also want local authorities to work with banks to help put a stop to this by appointing dementia champions to increase awareness about the condition.
These will have the responsibility of bringing in better working relationships and communication with local ­organisations to ensure people have more protection.
Figures from the report show almost two thirds (62%) of carers said the person they look after has been approached by cold callers or salespeople on their doorstep. A huge 70% were regularly pestered by telephone cold callers.
Many carers say they have difficulty dealing with banks and other services to gain control over finances. Meanwhile banking is becoming too technical, with PINs and passwords and less face-to-face interaction making it impossible for people with dementia to manage their finances.
Families and friends need to be aware of the real danger of financial abuse and do what they can to protect loved ones.
This means planning for the future and sorting out things like Lasting Power of Attorney.This allows someone who a dementia sufferer trusts to make decisions on their behalf when they are no longer able or lack the mental capacity to take decisions themselves.
Jeremy Hughes adds: “It’s only by working together with banks, local authorities, and of course the general public that we can turn this around and start the New Year with new hope.”
 

HOW TO SPOT IF SOMEONE IS FALLING VICTIM TO FINANCIAL ABUSE
●MONITOR bills and check bank statements to ensure they are not being left unpaid or large sums of money have come out of a person’s account. This could be an indication they are not managing financially or have been scammed.
●BE aware of unusual or seemingly unneeded purchases in the home, they could have been mis-sold by unscrupulous cold callers or telesales.
●LOOK out for unexpected changes to a person’s home – this could include incomplete renovations, missing valuables or workmen carrying out unnecessary jobs.
●BE aware of new friends, particularly those who the person says are inquiring about moving in, taking trips together or making joint financial commitments.
●CHECK that large amounts of cash are not being kept in the home as this will leave a person with dementia at risk of theft.
 
TOP TIPS TO PREVENT FINANCIAL ABUSE
●DISCUSS money management with your family – it can be very difficult to talk about money but it’s important to plan how you want your finances to be managed if you became unable to look after it yourself.
●SET up a Lasting Power of Attorney – this enables a person with dementia to choose someone they trust to make decisions on their behalf about things such as paying bills and collecting incomes once they are no longer able to take those decisions. These arrangements need to be set up while a person still has capacity to make decisions.
●SPEAK to the local bank manager – those with dementia and their carer should do this as soon as possible after a diagnosis, to look at extra support that may be available as the condition progresses and ways of managing money, eg, using a signature card instead of a PIN number.
●STOP junk mail and unwanted telephone calls – there are a number of ways to do this such as signing up to the Mailing Preference Service at www.mpsonline.org.uk and joining the Telephone Preference Service register: www.mpsonline.org.uk/tps/index.html.
●PUT a “no cold callers” sign on the door – you can get one of these from your local trading standards department. Six of the major energy suppliers will not knock on doors with a sign on them.