Age UK York in phone scam warning after elderly targeted

Age UK York said the residents received phone calls from scammers acting as staff members of the charity who tried to persuade them to hand over sensitive information.

The charity said it never cold calls and “will never expect you to disclose sensitive information simply because someone contacts you unexpectedly by telephone”.

An Age UK York spokesperson said sharing sensitive information with the scammers “could potentially place people in a vulnerable position or put them at risk of fraud or exploitation”.

They urged people to “never do anything you don’t want to do” if they believe they have received one of the calls, adding: “Do not feel pressured to answer questions or remain on the call. If you believe you have received a suspicious call, inform someone you know or report it to the relevant authorities.”

The charity spokesperson said: “We never cold-call. If you are unsure who is calling, end the call and contact Age UK York via 01904 634061 using a trusted telephone number or contact method.”

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They added: “If you’re unsure, then do not provide personal, financial or sensitive information over the phone.”

The Age UK spokesperson also said people can ask its team for a second opinion if they think the call may be a scam.

“We are here to help so please don’t hesitate to contact a member of our York team.”