New police scheme aims to protect older people from fraud

The Scambusters are giving information about possible fraudulent activity

A new volunteer group has been set up to engage with elderly members of the community who may be at risk from fraud.

The 'Scambusters' is a group made up of mainly older and retired volunteers who offer peer-to-peer support to those who have been a victim of fraud.

The scheme will see a member of the Scambusters team delivering a presentation to residents at care homes and independent living accommodation across Greater Manchester, arming them with knowledge on the latest scams and sharing key advice on how to avoid falling for them.

The Scambusters are part of GMP's Cyber and Economic Awareness Service (CECAS) which was launched in 2017 and is dedicated to providing prevention and awareness information to the public and safeguarding victims. Those over 65 are the group most commonly referred to CECAS for support so it is hoped that the new scheme will allow GMP to further target those pockets of the community more effectively.

Nearly 400 people have attended 31 presentations since September 2021, with more residents being reached through the crime prevention material that the Scambusters provide to the homes.

Emma Potts, the Volunteer Coordinator within CECAS, said: "Fraud can have a real lasting impact on victims, both financially and emotionally. In GMP, we are committed to lowering the number of people who fall victims to scams. One way we can do this, is by making sharing up-to-date fraud information and ensuring that people in Greater Manchester know how to spot a scam, how to protect themselves and how to report it.

"Anyone can fall victim to a scam, which is why our teams are dedicated to using a variety of channels to engage with the public in Greater Manchester. This includes regular posts on our @gmpfraud Twitter account, leaflets shared in food banks and posters in local supermarkets.

"Unfortunately, older people are more likely to be targeted by fraudsters, so I hope that this new scheme is another way that we can share our scam busting messages and help stop these abhorrent crimes."

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