A TOP senior care team from Uppermill are at the forefront of a new scam-busting initiative to tackle fraud and scams in the local community.
Mick Sheehan, owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Oldham based on Uppermill High Street, and his team will deliver 10 workshops across the area over the next 12 months.
They are some of Home Instead’s 8,000 caregivers who have been trained to combat mass market scams and report suspected fraud to the National Trading Standards Scams Team.
This new partnership will help caregivers and clients to identify and fight scams which each year claim 3.2 million victims with between £5 to £10 billion lost to scammers.
The campaign was launched in July – scam awareness month – as Mick set off on his Fraud Awareness Road Show with his team.
He said: “We’ve delivered workshops in the past but now we’ve been granted £1,000 funding from the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioners Neighbourhood Fund, we will be able to reach a larger number of people in the local area.
“With modern mass marketing scams using the post and internet, organised criminal gangs can reach many more people, and because they are very sophisticated in their approach many individuals of all age groups are taken in.
“If any groups or organisations would like a free scam awareness training session, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.”
Tony Lloyd, Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Fraudsters often prey on the elderly and vulnerable, exploiting their trust and goodwill to con them out of their savings.
“It is an issue that devastates people’s lives and cannot be ignored.
“By working with organisations like Home Instead, we can raise awareness of the different types of fraud, how to report it and what support is available, while giving local people the tools and confidence to spot scams, speak out and report it.”
Home Instead has also put together a free Senior Fraud Protection Kit which contains information on the most common scams, tools to help assess the risk of an elderly loved one, plus checklists to help seniors take practical action to lower the risk of becoming a victim of a scam.
Home Instead’s next Scam Awareness workshop will take place on September 30 at Dr Kershaws Hospice at 10.30am.
For more information about the Senior Fraud Protection Kit or to take part in a workshop, contact Mick at Home Instead Senior Care on 01457 874566 or visit their website.
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