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Adult Support and Protection Day 2025
Tuesday Feb 20 marks Adult Support and Protection Day 2025. This year, alongside highlighting the importance of caring for those in our community, we are also asking people to think about financial harm, its impact upon people and how to react to this growing concern.
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Financial harm can cover theft, fraud and pressure to sign over property or money. It also relates to rogue traders, online scammers and misuse of benefits.
People can be at increased risk to be harmed financially through factors such as ill health, trauma and physical or mental health conditions.
It can happen anywhere - in someone’s home, where they work, or in a public place - and is often caused by the people closest to them. It can even happen in places responsible for keeping someone safe, such as a care home, hospital or day centre.
Speak up
It’s important to speak up about any concerns you have, as the person may not be able to do so themselves.
In cases reported to Hourglass Scotland over the last three years, concerning financial harm – more than two million pounds been stolen or defrauded from older people.
The real total amount, will be many times that figure across Scotland over recent years. In 60% of the cases the person who was financially harming the adult, was a family member or partner - 37% of them were sons and daughters.
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Older adults in particular, can be vulnerable to being harmed financially - sometimes by strangers or professional scammers, but also by people they know and trust.
Brian's story tells us about a 77 year old who was befriended by a man he met in his local shop. Before long, the new friend was shopping for Brian and helping him out at home.
At first, Brian's family who lived abroad were really happy that Brian had a new friend who was helping him. However their relief turned to concern when Brian advised that the friend had his bank card and number and that he had asked Brian if he could borrow some money from him.
The friend is now suggesting to Brian that he could move in with him to be able to be on hand to assist him better. Brian phoned his family abroad, confused, as his latest bank statement appears to show that about £8,000 is missing.
What would you do if you were concerned that an adult you know was being financially harmed?
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Scammers are always developing new scams to meet the environment we find ourselves in. Many scams are online, distributed by phone or email, but they also come by mail or rogue doorstep callers.
 If you think you have been targeted or the victim of a scam please contact our Trading Standards Service
01563 576790 (Option 5)
visit our Trading Standards webpages
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 If you are worried an adult you know (or you, yourself) are being financially harmed - you can make an Adult Support and Protection referral to have the circumstances looked into.
Make an Adult Support and Protection (ASP) Referral - ASP Referrals - Adult Support and Protection is everyone's business. If you See Something, Say Something - everyone deserves to live a life free from harm.
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