Scams Awareness Month

The Office of Fair Trading has declared February 2011 Scams Awareness Month, and we're glad to spread the word, since older people are the most common victims of scams.

It's not just older people who are affected, though: nearly half of the UK population has been targeted by scams, and more than three million adults - 6.5% of the adult population - fall victim to scams, losing £3.5 billion per year.

To help stop the scammers, the Office of Fair Trading has produced a 'scambuster' guide that explains some of the most common scams (clairvoyants and psychics, email bank account transfer scams, pyramid schemes, etc) and how to avoid them. You can also find out more from the Office of Fair Trading website.

Council cost-saving leaves older people in the dark

Reports of a worrying new practice by local councils emerged today, revealing attempts to save costs by switching off or dimming street lights. This practice ignores the needs of older people in local communities, as do the comments of Matthew Lugg, Leicestershire County Council's Transport Director - that crime will not increase because, 'even criminals need lights to see what they are nicking'.

Not only are these moves of serious practical concern to those with visual impairments, disabilities or at risk of falling, but research shows that large numbers of older people are already fearful in their local communities, and avoid going out at as much as they would like, particularly in darkness. Reducing street lighting to an even greater extent will only enhance this fear. Good lighting is essential to enabling older people, many of whom are already at risk of social isolation, to get out and about in their local area.

Read more from the Daily Mail.

stock photo by sarka_s from www.sxc.hu