Family member being scammed

[DancerandPrancer1]

A family member of mine is quite clearly scammed.. but won't listen to anyone. Recently, they are posting on freebie sites on facebook asking for items and telling everyone that money is tight so would appreciate any items. I went onto their profile and her photos have tons of comments from fake accounts that steal peoples photos. She is telling them publicly that she loves them. I'm worried that she's sending them money as these are the profiles that have lots of older ladies as their facebook friends. There is loads of these profiles that she's friends with that are clearly fake. She is also posting her address on public facebook pages. I'm worried as she is very vulnerable but has withdrawn and won't speak to us. What can be done?

Raise a safeguarding concern with adult social care. You can find how to do that by searching your local authority adult social care online. If you think she doesn't understand the consequences of posting her address online or understand that people on the Internet can scam others then when you raise the safeguarding make that clear and say that you don't think she has the mental capacity to safeguard herself.

Thank you. That's very helpful. There are comments on her profile pictures like 'please connect with me. This is my new account as I can't log into my old account due to bad weather here. I am missing speaking with you. 'You are my queen.' etc and she is commenting back saying how much she loves them. There is so many of these accounts on her page

Although the previous poster is recommending a referral to Social Services they wouldn't actually get involved unless there is an issue affecting your relatives capacity or she is placing another person at risk lacking capacity to protect themselves.

Does she have a learning disability or mental illness affecting her capacity to make reasoned decisions? If not then Social Services would not wade into her life unless her behaviour is placing someone else at risk that requires protection eg another person lacking capacity (mental impairment or disability) or a child. Is either situations the case?

I am replying as a qualified and experienced Adult Social Worker (no longer practicing). Once you have answered this I'll give you alternative advice 👌

Tbh if I wanted to intervene I haven’t a clue what to do so would to to the Citizens Advice Bureau as starting point !

Report the FB profile as fake/scam/harmful etc. FB have to look at it.