health
Friendship fraud: warnings of rise in ‘insidious’ scam targeting older people
Fraudsters exploit isolation and search for human contact to often devastating effect. These are steps you can take to avoid them
TL;DR
- Scammers are using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to build fake friendships with older, lonely, or bereaved individuals.
- These "friendship frauds" involve criminals grooming victims over time by feigning common interests before asking for money, often for seemingly small amounts initially.
- Victims have lost thousands of pounds, with some conversations lasting years and involving multiple payments via bank transfer or gift cards.
- The scam exploits victims' isolation and yearning for human contact, leading to severe financial, emotional, and psychological consequences.
- Experts recommend severing contact if money is requested, reporting scams to Action Fraud and banks, and securing social media privacy settings.
- Family members are encouraged to discuss new online friendships with older relatives and help them question suspicious financial requests.