COLD-CALLING firms are deliberately targeting people with dementia because they are more likely to cave in to their demands.
That is one of the damning conclusions of a 30-month-long investigation into how nuisance calls were affecting the elderly.
The in-depth probe was conducted by Trading Standards officers who found that dementia sufferers are far more likely to be targeted.
The revelation follows a Sunday Post campaign demanding a crackdown on cold callers.
David Hickson, of the Fair Telecoms Campaign, described the ploy as “alarming”.
He said: “Clearly dementia sufferers are at greater risk of being exploited. We must do all we can to crack down on it.”
Trading Standards officers worked closely with council social work departments to select more than 500 vulnerable adults around Scotland as part of their investigation.
They installed call-blocking technology in their homes for two-and-a-half years and monitored the results.
The investigation revealed a 39% rise in the volume of cold calls targeting elderly Scots in total.
Victims are being called 60 times a month on average.
Almost a third of the calls are from international call centres, while the most active calls came from firms looking to promote boiler scrappage schemes.
Disturbingly, vulnerable people were found to be twice as likely to receive nuisance calls, and of those dementia suffers were 20% more at risk.
Alzheimer Scotland said: “It is very concerning that people with dementia appear to be getting specifically targeted by unscrupulous cold callers.
“This group is particularly vulnerable to financial scams.
“Being caught up in such a scam can have a huge impact on their lives.
“It can be a huge blow to their confidence and self-esteem and ultimately make it harder for them to continue living independently within their own home.”
In August the extent of pressures exerted by cold callers was revealed when it emerged dementia sufferer Samuel Rae, 87, from Cornwall, was contacted 700 times by 12 different firms.
The former army colonel was swindled out of £35,000 after his details were sold on 200 times to shady companies including scam artists.
Alarmingly, the entire campaign of torment was sparked simply because he failed to tick an ‘opt out’ box asking for his details not to be passed on.
His son Chris said: “I’m just appalled and deeply shocked.
“It is a horrific insight into what can happen when you forget, as we all sometimes do, to tick a box in the small print.
“You think charities would have the highest ethical standards of any organisations.
“It is clear to me that some of them have been taken over by people who only care about making money.
“In a way, I am glad my father is not able to understand what has happened.”
Lesley Carcary, director of Action on Elder Abuse Scotland, described the report’s findings as “disturbing”.
“It must be taken as seriously as child abuse,” she said last night.
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