Almost half of Sussex residents aged 65 or older, their relative or friend has been targeted by fraudsters, according to a poll by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne.
As fraud rapidly increases against residents aged 65 and older, the PCC asked older residents: “Have you or a friend or relative aged 65 or older been targeted by fraudsters?”
A total of 248 or 47% voted ‘Yes’ while 264 or 50% voted ‘No’. Fourteen voters took part but didn’t vote either way.
Five hundred and twenty six people took part in the poll which comes weeks before the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne’s first crime summit on March 23 that will tackle the issue of elder exploitation and identify ways to tackle the growing problem.
Commenting on the poll results, PCC Katy Bourne said: “This poll sadly confirms the disturbing level of fraud targeted at our older residents. Criminal gangs are deliberately targeting those aged 65 and older often because they may have substantial savings and can be more trusting.
“They are grooming our vulnerable, our lonely and often elderly residents, robbing them of their life savings and potentially the ability to look after themselves.
“Whilst I am committed to supporting all victims in Sussex, I believe we also need co-ordinated national action to raise awareness of fraud, and to introduce tougher sanctions for those who systematically target our elderly.
“The first meeting of my new Listen Live programme will be in Brighton’s Jubilee Library on the 23rd and will bring together a panel of representatives from policing, charity, government, banking and Neighbourhood Watch. They will be led in discussion by the BBC’s Danny Pike, to propose solutions to the very real problems of fraud and elder exploitation here in Sussex.”
To attend the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner’s Fraud and Elder Exploitation, summit hosted by the BBC, in Brighton’s Jubilee Library, click here.
