Heartless families use technology to steal from elderly

Updated
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Contactless cards have left older people vulnerable to fraud from those they trust the most. Action on Elder Abuse has warned that since tap-and-pay cards were introduced, there has been a boom in family members regularly stealing from elderly relatives.
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The crime

The elderly have long been vulnerable to thefts by family members visiting them or caring for them. Action on Elder Abuse told the Telegraph that £19 million was stolen or coerced from older people last year - around half by family members.

In some cases, sweet talking relatives persuade older people to part with money, but many are distraction thefts, where family members dip into purses, or pocket valuables while the older person is out of the room.

In the past, they have only been able to take whatever cash is in the purse, but contactless technology allows them to take the card, make a number of payments, and then return it undetected. The increase in the contactless payment limit from £20 to £30 last September made it easier for people to steal more.

Why?

It's hard to imagine what would drive anyone to steal from their close friends and family - especially when they are so vulnerable. However, as we reported last summer, the courts have also seen a spike in cases where adult children have been stealing from their elderly parents.

The figures were uncovered by the KPMG Fraud Barometer, which concluded that their offspring may have been expecting to inherit money from relatives who have benefited from robust pensions or the growth in property values. They have been caught out by the fact that people are living so much longer nowadays, and have decided they cannot wait for their inheritance.

Hitesh Patel, UK Forensic Partner at KPMG, said: "People are living longer, and we are seeing examples of people who are choosing to remove uncertainties about when or if they will get their inheritance by fraudulent means. It's also likely these cases are just the tip of the iceberg – frauds of this nature often go unreported as embarrassed victims seek to 'keep it in the family' and 'forgive and forget'."

What can you do?

The charity said that elderly people may well be aware of what is going on but feel they cannot speak up, because they rely on individuals to take care of them. They are encouraging people to take steps to protect themselves.

More than a third of all cards are now contactless, and replacement cards delivered to elderly people may well have the technology without them being aware of it. If you are concerned about a vulnerable person it's worth knowing that all the card providers - except Barclaycard - enable you to request a card without contactless technology, so you can reduce the risk.

In addition, the charity is urging victims, or anyone who suspects someone they know may be a victim, to call the helpline on 080 8808 8141 for advice.



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