Over 65s six times more likely be called by scammers than their grandchildren

Adults over the age of 65 are six times more likely get a phone call from a scammer than their own grandchildren, new research from Uswitch.com shows.

Mobile phone scams continue to be a problem with 5.7 million Brits having been targeted at least 10 times.

But, surprisingly, the older generation aren’t the ones most at risk of losing money. Those aged 35-55 lose the most money, at an average of £1,826 per scam.

You’re also high risk if English is your second language.

Common phone and online scams

Fraudsters usually pretend to be:

• businesses (68%)
• banks (57%)
• investors (50%)

Breaking the stigma

Despite the frequency of these scams, many victims feel embarrassed to talk about their experiences, especially those who are over 65.

Two-thirds (66%) of this age group said they’d be embarrassed if they fell for a scam.

Harold Richardson, 75, lost £4,000 to a scammer posing as a “convincing” Microsoft technician last summer.

While he eventually got most of his money back, he said it !took a lot of time and energy and caused me a great deal of anxiety and stress”.

Taking action

Uswitch has teamed up with Re-engage, a charity focused on helping older adults combat loneliness, to let us all know how to spot the latest types of scams and stay safe.

If you receive an unexpected call, they advise everyone to ‘stop, check and call back’:

• Stop: Hang up if you feel uneasy.
• Check: Look up the official number for the person or business calling you.
• Call back: Verify the situation by ringing the official number.

Stay safe

With just a few weeks until Christmas, scams are particularly common this time of year. That’s why NatWest have put together a ‘scamvent’ calendar of the most popular scams.

Find out more about spotting online scams or check out our guide about common types of fraud, including what to do if you think you've been scammed.

Finally, don’t let embarrassment prevent you from reporting scams. Sharing your experience can help others stay safe. And remember, many phone providers offer call-screening technology to help filter out suspicious calls.