Welcome for campaign to protect over 50s from phone scammers

10.02.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 19th Oct 2009

Eleanor Burnham has today welcomed the Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales' campaign to urge people over the age of 50 to protect themselves from telephone scammers.

Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales are warning that older people may be vulnerable to thieves who steal bank details and other personal information over the phone.

Eleanor Burnham said " There have been a number of recent high-profile cases of people receiving phone calls, wrongly telling them they were in arrears with their phone bills and unless people agreed to settle their bills were threatened with having their phone lines cut off.

"Of course, when threatened with such demands some people agreed to pay up and when asked for their bank details, criminals stole the money from their bank accounts."

Eleanor Burnham continued said " I am outraged that people are being targeted by criminals in this way and would urge everyone to follow Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales' advice to protect themselves from phone scams.

"The golden rule is to never give your bank or credit or debit card details to cold callers - cold callers are organisations and individuals who ring you out-of-the-blue.

"Be cynical, there are criminals who will cold call you while posing as salespeople or representatives from utility companies so they can steal your bank details.

"Don't be afraid to tell callers you don't want to speak to them or of putting the phone down on them.

"Remember, if the caller starts being impatient or aggressive with you, just hang up as no genuine company representative would behave in this way.

"Finally, if you think you have given your bank or card details to one of these criminals, don't hesitate - contact the police and your bank immediately."

Millions of pounds are lost to scams each year. Here are some things to remember if you get unwanted offers through the post or uninvited callers.

• If you haven't entered a competition you can't have won a prize, so don't reply or send any money;

• Responding to one item of scam mail can result in up to a hundred items being sent to you daily;

• Don't sign anything, or give out your personal details or pay in advance on the doorstep;

• Use your door chain. Ask for and verify identification;

• If in doubt call the police and keep the caller out;