Harold Richardson, 75, from Kent, was targeted last July when a fraudster called him up and pretended to be from Microsoft, in order to trick him into sharing his personal details
A pensioner has revealed how a “very convincing” telephone scam cost him £4,000 as he issued a warning to others.
Harold Richardson, 75, from Kent, was targeted last July when a fraudster called him up and pretended to be from Microsoft. The scammer falsely told Harold that his computer had been infected with malware, and they managed to convince him to give them access to his computer – but this was all part of a play to get steal his personal details.
He said: “They were very convincing, playing on a common issue to get me to grant them access to my computer, which gave them access to all of my personal information, including email passwords and online banking details. The scam cost me £4,000 in total, most of which I did eventually get back, however, this took a lot of time and energy and caused me a great deal of anxiety and stress.”
New research from Uswitch.com reveals 5.7 million Brits have been targeted by a mobile phone scammer ten or more time. Those aged 65 and above receive on average 295 cold and potentially suspicious calls a year. But it’s not just older Brits who have fallen victim to a scam.
Those between the age of 35 and 55 are the most likely to lose the largest amount of money as a result of phone fraud, costing them an average of £1,826 compared to the national average of £1,371. The most common mobile and online scams Brits are targeted by include business impersonation scams (68%), bank impersonation scams (57%) and investment scams (50%).
Simrat Sharma, mobiles expert at Uswitch.com, said: “Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, from AI voice cloning to video deepfakes, making it more difficult than ever for consumers to spot them and stay protected. People of all ages should be vigilant when answering unexpected calls and never share personal or financial information over the phone if you do not know the caller.
“We know people often feel embarrassed to talk about their experiences with fraud, however reporting scams to your network or Action Fraud will flag certain numbers and potentially disable future scams for others. There are also lots of existing services that are free and easy to access and can help keep you protected. For example, many providers offer call-screening technologies which prevent suspicious calls from reaching you.“
Uswitch has partnered with older person’s charity Re-engage to help elderly people from mobile and online scams. Jenny Willott, Re-engage CEO, said: “Fraudsters often target older adults who may be socially isolated, and it’s upsetting to see so many of those aged 65 and older have been targeted by a mobile phone scam ten or more times.
“While the financial impact of scams can be great, there is also a significant emotional cost. Suspicious calls and scam attempts can cause distress and anxiety, and the stigma around being a victim of fraud means many people are embarrassed to speak up.”
What to do if you’ve been scammed
If you suspect a scammer is calling you, hang up immediately and search for the contact details online of the place you’re supposedly being called from. Never call back the number provided by the caller. Contact your bank straight away if you think a fraudster has got access to your account. You can call the 159 hotline, which will connect you to your bank.
Passwords that have been leaked or compromised should be changed immediately. Make sure you report scams and fraud to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or through the Action Fraud website. If you’re in Scotland, report a scam through Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or on the Advice Direct Scotland website. You can also report scams to Police Scotland on 101. For scam emails, forward them to report@phishing.gov.uk, and for scam text messages, forward them to 7726 for free. You can report dodgy websites to the National Cyber Security Centre.
