Warning to grandparents as 1 cellphone name might “wipe out” life financial savings | UK | News | EUROtoday

Fraud towards grandparents is likely one of the fastest-growing types of monetary crime within the UK, with scammers more and more specializing in trusting pensioners who could also be extra more likely to fall foul of an surprising caller, textual content or electronic mail. While many households assume fraud primarily hits youthful individuals who spend a lot of their life on-line, consultants say criminals are intentionally shifting their consideration in the direction of grandparents, actually because it’s simpler to take advantage of belief than it’s to crack passwords.

In the previous six months alone, recent reviews linked to so-called “grandparent” type scams and impersonation fraud have continued to floor throughout the UK, with victims typically shedding four-figure sums in a single interplay. In early September 2025, for instance, Police Service of Northern Ireland introduced an extradition arrest related to a “grandparent scam,” underlining how organised and cross-border a few of these operations might be. Separately, regional police have additionally warned about spikes in impersonation calls the place criminals pose as police or banks, a tactic that always targets older residents and leans closely on panic and authority.

Mark Baars, a tech knowledgeable at Unit4, says older adults are actually seen by criminals as one of the vital enticing teams to take advantage of.

He stated: “Older adults are seen as a prime target because they often have stable incomes, decent savings and strong credit histories built up over decades. From a scammer’s point of view, it’s a high-reward opportunity with relatively low effort.”

He provides that many fraudsters rely much less on expertise and extra on psychology.

“This type of fraud isn’t about hacking systems. It’s about manipulating trust, authority and urgency. If someone believes they’re helping a loved one or protecting their savings, they’re far more likely to act quickly.”

One of the commonest scams presently circulating is the grandparent rip-off, the place criminals pose as a grandchild or shut relative claiming to be in bother.

“These calls often start with something vague like ‘It’s me, I need help,’” Mark says. “Once the scammer establishes an emotional hook, they introduce an urgent problem such as a legal issue, a medical bill or a fine that must be paid immediately.”

He explains that criminals usually instruct victims to not inform anybody, which will increase the stress. “Secrecy is a huge red flag. Scammers rely on isolation because the moment a second person is involved, the story usually falls apart.”

Other more and more widespread techniques embrace pretend financial institution fraud alerts, spoofed cellphone numbers that seem to come back from trusted establishments, and emails or texts designed to hurry somebody into clicking a hyperlink or shifting cash.

While monetary losses might be extreme, Mark stresses that the emotional affect is usually even larger.

He stated: “Many victims feel deep embarrassment after the fact, even though they’ve done nothing wrong.

“That shame can stop people from reporting what happened or asking for help, which only benefits the criminals.

“For someone in retirement, there may be no realistic way to rebuild those savings. That’s why this type of fraud can have lasting consequences for mental health and independence.”

Mark says households ought to pay shut consideration to adjustments in behaviour, not simply funds.

“If an older relative suddenly seems anxious about money, unusually secretive, or mentions urgent payments that don’t quite add up, those are warning signs,” he explains. “Scammers create panic so people don’t have time to think things through.”

He additionally warns that fraudsters could impersonate professionals. “We’re seeing more cases where scammers pretend to be bank staff, police officers or utility providers. The authority sounds convincing, especially over the phone.”

According to Mark, prevention begins with communication somewhat than expertise.

“Staying connected is one of the most effective protections,” he says. “Regular conversations reduce isolation and make it easier for older adults to sense when something doesn’t feel right.”

He advises households to have clear, calm discussions about scams earlier than something occurs. “Explain that legitimate organisations will never ask for passwords, full PINs or urgent transfers over the phone. Framing it as information rather than fear makes it easier to absorb.”

Mark additionally highlights the significance of economic safeguards. “Monitoring bank statements, setting up transaction alerts and naming a trusted contact with financial institutions can create extra layers of protection without removing independence.”