Financial abuse and scams

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse is the main form of abuse investigated by the Office of the Public Guardian both amongst adults and children at risk. Financial recorded abuse can occur in isolation, but as research has shown, where there are other forms of abuse, there is likely to be financial abuse occurring. Although this is not always the case, everyone should also be aware of this possibility.

Potential indicators of financial abuse:

• change in living conditions
• lack of heating, clothing or food
• inability to pay bills/unexplained shortage of money
• unexplained withdrawals from an account
• unexplained loss/misplacement of financial documents
• the recent addition of authorised signers on a client or donor's signature card
• sudden or unexpected changes in a will or other financial documents

Anyone can perpetrate abuse or neglect, including:

• spouses/partners
• other family members
• neighbours
• friends
• acquaintances
• local residents
• people who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable to abuse
• paid staff or professionals and volunteers
• strangers

While a lot of attention is paid, for example, to targeted fraud or internet scams perpetrated by complete strangers, it is far more likely that the person responsible for abuse is known to the adult and is in a position of trust and power. 

Trading Standards - Gateshead

The Trading Standards team in Gateshead are here to support the fight against financial abuse. Here are some hits and tips on who to recognise scams and what to do if you do fall victim to a scam.

What is a scam? 

Find out about scams on the Friends Against Scams website (opens new window).

Trading Standards can offer advice and support to people who have fallen victim to a scam.  

Scams can come in many different forms such as: 

• scam mail through your door

• unsolicited phone calls

• online scams

Anyone can fall victim to a scam and sadly, any money lost usually cannot be retrieved.   

The best thing we can do is be more aware about how to identify a scam and know who to ask for advice. 

If you or someone you know feels vulnerable to such things you can contact Trading Standards for further information on 0191 433 3987.

Find out more about scams (opens new window)

Prevent unwanted calls

We have a small number of 'TrueCall' Call Blockers which are devices that we can fit, free of charge, to a landline in, order to reduce unsolicited calls. These devices let your friends and family straight through, blocks unwelcome callers and asks unrecognised callers to identify themselves before putting them through. 

The device is easy to set up and a member of the Trading Standards Team can come to your home to do this for you.  

Reporting scams and getting advice 

If you have made a payment in response to a scam, contact your bank as soon as possible. 

Report - contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. 

Advice - contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or Gateshead Trading Standards for Gateshead residents on 0191 433 3987. 

What we are doing nationally

The National Trading Standards Scams Team (opens new window) tackle mass marketing scams and disrupts the operations of perpetrators behind mail scams. It works in partnership with agencies across the country to identify and support victims of mass marketing fraud. 

The team provides guidance, best practice and establishes a centre of excellence to assist local authorities in supporting local victims and taking local enforcement action. 

Become a Friend Against Scams 

Friends Against Scams (opens new window) is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative, which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering people to take a stand against scams. 

SCAMchampions are Friends Against Scams who want to do more. SCAMchampions host awareness sessions to recruit Friends and drive Friends Against Scams forward in their communities or workplace. SCAMchampions attend an additional session to give them a fuller understanding of the laws surrounding scams and some presentation tips. 

A Scam Marshall  (opens new window) is any resident in the UK who has been targeted by a scam and now wants to fight back and take a stand against scams. Scam Marshals do this by sharing their own experiences, helping others to report and recognise scams and sending any scam mail that they receive to the NTS Scams Team so that it can be utilised as evidence in future investigative and enforcement work.  

Spot the signs of financial abuse video (opens new window)

The Little Book of Big Scams

The Little Book of Big Scams is produced by the Metropolitan Police and provided a information, advice and guidance on a variety of scams from banking and bank cards, to romance and recruitment fraud. It also promotes the "Take Five" (opens new window) national campaign which offers straight forward practical advice to help anyone protect themselves from Fraud.

See the The Little Book of Scams 5th Edition (PDF, 3 MB)