Gran being scammed what can we do?

honeyD

Hi, I dont know where exactly to post this so posting here in the hopes that someone can help. My Gran who is in her 70s is being scammed for money. She has been a bit doddery for a few years now but seems to be getting a bit worse as time goes by. She gets these letters through the post saying she has won money etc etc and to send a cheque/postal order back with an amount so they can send it to her, and she does it.
Ive told her in the past that these are scams and she stopped or I thought she had. It now seems she is taking full advantage of all these letters and getting more than ever. She has sent off nearly £50 postal order last week to a company called Vital Beauty or something and she is expecting to receive what she has ordered but I know she wont get it as its a scam. She completes these crossword type puzzles and then has to call their premium number with the answer and she is on the phone for near 10 minutes at £1.50 a minute but she is happy because she receives these pieces of jewellery. Shes recently given me a set of earrings they sent her and my god my heart broke for her, its junk! Not even real gold, not even fake gold really just some yellow colour. But she wont listen, she wont stop, she thinks these are great and I know she used to do crosswords before in magazines and never win and I think she just likes that she is winning but she is wasting a lot of money doing this. She gives a lot of personal details to these people too which worries me.

My Sister is her carer so I have advised her to check our Grans mail in order to prevent these letters from getting to her but after I told her what she should do it seems to have gone in one ear and out the other. Even though she said she would do it, she now is saying she wont because its illegal which Im sure its not? I just think someone needs to stop her from doing it, and if you take away the letters she cant do it!

Does anyone have any advice they can offer please as I dont really know what to do and I dont live close enough to check her mail myself.

dieselhead

[STRIKE]Part of me wants to say don't interfere, as my grandmother loved her bargins and all the 2 for 1 offers in the supermarket, and would buy horrendous amounts of stuff she just didn't need. Sadly she passed away a couple of months ago, and in her cupoards amongst other stashes we found around 20 date and walnut cakes (all out of date), 10 boxes of cereal bars, and tons of other bits and bobs that had been on offer and were just stashed

We knew she was doing it but it was her money, wasn't hurting anyone and made her happy knowing she had got a 'bargain' (or a 'bargun' as she called them).

If its making her happy, and its not causing her any finacial hardship I would be inclined to let it be.

I do understand how worrying it is as you don't want her to give any card detail etc. over the phone, but if she is using postal orders then thats probably the safest way to do things.

If you are really worried you could suggest that 0900 numbers are blocked from her phone so she can no-longer ring the premium rate numbers.

But really being honest unless she is really loosing large amounts of money and if it is making her happy I would leave her be.[/STRIKE]

I have just read the website in a post below and am horrified that I posted the above, and suggested that you leave her be!

honeyD

dieselhead wrote: »

Part of me wants to say don't interfere, as my grandmother loved her bargins and all the 2 for 1 offers in the supermarket, and would buy horrendous amounts of stuff she just didn't need. Sadly she passed away a couple of months ago, and in her cupoards amongst other stashes we found around 20 date and walnut cakes (all out of date), 10 boxes of cereal bars, and tons of other bits and bobs that had been on offer and were just stashed

We knew she was doing it but it was her money, wasn't hurting anyone and made her happy knowing she had got a 'bargain' (or a 'bargun' as she called them).

If its making her happy, and its not causing her any finacial hardship I would be inclined to let it be.

I do understand how worrying it is as you don't want her to give any card detail etc. over the phone, but if she is using postal orders then thats probably the safest way to do things.

If you are really worried you could suggest that 0900 numbers are blocked from her phone so she can no-longer ring the premium rate numbers.

But really being honest unless she is really loosing large amounts of money and if it is making her happy I would leave her be.

Hi, thanks. She only paid with postal order because her cheque book had run out. Now I know she cant be using cheques too often as she never leaves the house, only for hospital appointments etc. So all of her cheque book will have been payments to these scammers. I really dont think we should sit by and let her waste all of her and our grandfathers money especially to people who are taking from vulnerable elderly people to fund whatever they want to. If she keeps going on this way I think she will end up wasting all of their savings as she is paying out all this money every week and no doubt its more than they get in from their pensions.

littlemissmoney

Useful website about this:

http://www.thinkjessica.com/

honeyD

Thanks for the link I will pass it on to my sister.
Im not suggesting she removes the mail permanently, I just suggested she takes it to a room to check and if there is any she is unsure about then to take it home and check online to see if it is a scam and if not then give it to Gran the next day. I dont think this is illegal? Its not taking her mail to do something bad, its to help her.

Savvy_Sue

Whether your intentions are honourable or not, it's interfering with the Royal Mail, which is an offence.

And doing what you suggest leaves your sister open to accusations of theft if your Gran realises post is going missing or being opened.

There may be something useful on the Action on Elder Abuse website. It's not an easy situation to deal with, granted.

shell_girl

I would suggest you have a look at the Mental Capacity Act in case there's a chance your sister or you could act as a deputy for your Gran. Google Court of Protection for more information about this. Best of luck to you, this is a truly horrible, and unfortunately all too common, scenario.

honeyD

I thought it was only illegal for someone to open a persons mail if they intend to use it in a bad way? Thats what Ive read on other boards here.
Another thing is she sends family members to post these letters for her or buy the postal orders so how can they not do that if they dont realise what its for? I think they should just take the money and put it in her bank account or something, or like a cheque then just dont send the letter. Take it home to check what she is sending it to first then if its ok send it, if not dont. That way she thinks shes "applying" but shes not really and she keeps her money. I dont know, I just dont like this at all.

pelirocco

honeyD wrote: »

I thought it was only illegal for someone to open a persons mail if they intend to use it in a bad way? Thats what Ive read on other boards here.
Another thing is she sends family members to post these letters for her or buy the postal orders so how can they not do that if they dont realise what its for? I think they should just take the money and put it in her bank account or something, or like a cheque then just dont send the letter. Take it home to check what she is sending it to first then if its ok send it, if not dont. That way she thinks shes "applying" but shes not really and she keeps her money. I dont know, I just dont like this at all.

You cant be responsible for stuff that gets lost in the post;) , I would throw the letters away personally . But maybe you could look into some activities / clubs she could join , she probably needs an interest

honeyD

My Husband had the idea of letting her think she is doing them or let her do magazine competitions and if she doesnt win just buy her a little thing every now and again. Could be enough for her to have the "win" feeling but only she wouldnt really have won. Hm could that work? I dont know..

FingersCrossed_2

I would call your local Trading Standards office for advice. Also check out the Consumer Direct website. What about the mail preference service too - this may allow you to stop the mail being sent? Good luck, it's a difficult situation.