Elderly people taken in by scams

One victim of scammers handed over as much as £40,000

An increasing number of people in Perth and Kinross are being taken in by cash scams, according to Trading Standards.

In the past year, officers have dealt with a dementia sufferer in his 80s who had advertising company couriers come to collect several cheques.

A 55-year-old man also sent £29,000 to a Costa Rican lottery and lady in her 90s gave £4,000 to bogus clairvoyants.

Post office staff have been urged to help by looking for customers who frequently send postal orders overseas.

'Great distress'

Postal orders and moneygrams are some of the most common methods used by scammers.

Victims have handed over anything between £2,000 and £40,000.

Councillor Willie Robertson, community safety convener, said: "The traumatic effect on the victims often means they require specialist support from other council services and our partner agencies, and they also cause great distress to their relatives who often have no idea of what has been happening.

"I'm certain we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg as many of the elderly victims either don't have the capacity to realise they are being conned or are too ashamed to admit it."