Caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care Truro, which specialises in providing care to older people in their own homes, are becoming scambusters by using a new and innovative e-learning and training system aimed at protecting older people in the community.

Home Instead has partnered with the National Trading Standards Scam Team, sending a clear message about their commitment to helping older people avoid falling victim to mass market scammers.

All of Home Instead’s caregivers are trained to spot the signs of scams, whether it’s through the post, online or by telephone. The new training will provide caregivers with even more confidence in becoming community scambusters.

The new e-learning system, designed by the National Trading Standards Scam Team is an addition to the Home Instead Senior Fraud Protection Campaign, which launched in 2013. The online programme, tailored especially for Home Instead to help safeguard older people from the many scams and cons that could jeopardise their physical and mental health, finances, and independence.

Building on the existing Senior Fraud Protection Programme, the e-learning system provides a certified level of training endorsed by National Trading Standards. The programme also features a Report a Fraud website which offers caregivers the opportunity to report scams on behalf of their clients.

Owner of Home Instead in Truro, Tim Roe, said: “Statistics show that 48 per cent of people in the UK have been targeted by a scam which defraud individuals in the UK of an estimated £3.5 billion each year. The consequences for the elderly and other vulnerable people are devastating as the emotional distress and loss of confidence and trust can lead to a loss of independence. The sad thing is that much of this could be avoided with better awareness and education and this is exactly what we intend to do.”