Fear and phoning: Telephones, fraud, and older adults in the UK
This study explores the experiences of attempted frauds and victimisation which use largely telephone-based means of communication on predominantly over 75s in the United Kingdom. Using a postal survey targeted at the clients of a charity working mostly with this age group, two surveys were conducte...
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| Contributors: | ; ; |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
International review of victimology
Year: 2025, Volume: 31, Issue: 1, Pages: 117-134 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Summary: | This study explores the experiences of attempted frauds and victimisation which use largely telephone-based means of communication on predominantly over 75s in the United Kingdom. Using a postal survey targeted at the clients of a charity working mostly with this age group, two surveys were conducted during the 18-month life of the project, securing almost 2,000 responses, which sought to explore their experience of fraud as part of a wider evaluation of a fraud prevention initiative. The surveys were supported by 18 interviews with clients and 7 interviews with the charity co-ordinator and volunteers. The research found higher rates of victimisation than the norm for this group, combined with a large number of attempted frauds predominantly via the telephone, with 20% of respondents experiencing at least weekly attempts. The research highlights the first significant evidence of the fears, concerns, and anxieties among a minority of this group of frauds/scams and their impact on their daily lives. The paper also offers insights into telephone fraud and a typology of this crime. |
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| ISSN: | 2047-9433 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/02697580241254399 |