VALE MP Alun Cairns is supporting Age Cymru Scams and swindles campaign and is calling for more protection to prevent scams reaching older people.

Many scammers use four basic methods to target older people and many people fall victim to a range of frauds online and through the post. Figures from the Office of Fair Trading suggest people in the UK lost £3.5 billion a year to scanners.

Alun Cairns MP has a specific interest in communication and technology and had led a campaign to change the law to prevent nuisance calls. He is also an Internet Watch foundation Champion and an a Digital Industries Ambassador, nominated by E-Skills.

The Vale MP is keen to highlight the issue of online scams against vulnerable older people, particularly those with diminished capacity.

Alun Cairns said: “I really welcome the campaign by Age Cymru in protecting older people against scams – in this instance particularly the threat from online scams and swindles.

“The figures from the Office of Fair Trading are very concerning.

“This campaign by Age Cymru against online fraudsters is equally important. I’m really concerned about the ease with which companies can entice older people to part with their money and have heard from several constituents who have suffered from these types of scams.

“I will be doing all I can to urge web companies to help educate and inform their users of the data security tools that should be there to safeguard the users safety whilst online.”

Gerry Keighley from Age Cymru says: “Age Cymru’s ‘Scams and swindles’ campaign is calling for more protection to prevent scams reaching older people. Criminals target the vulnerable and they will pursue their victims ruthlessly if they find a chink in their armour. Older people – especially the lonely and those in failing physical or mental health, are particularly at risk. Once caught, some will be added to a so-called ‘suckers list’ and their details passed on to more criminals.”