Fraudsters are targeting vulnerable self isolated

[Friendsofmine]

Just to warn you all that my family what's app has pinged at me this eve and my elderly relative has had two people separately knock on the front door posing as people sent by the GP and then by the council to do their shopping...

"You can trust me, tell you what I don't need your PIN, I will do it via the bank' etc were some of the phrases used to try to get the card apparently.

Terrible. Have you reported this to the police so they can make the vulnerable aware?

My sister has yes.

Awful. This crisis brings out the best and the worst in people is what I keep hearing and it is so true.

This is what I was afraid would happen and actually posted my fear a couple of weeks ago. However, a young person came along from our road with a leaflet she had printed giving her email and mobile. She introduced herself and told us where she lived. She was simply lovely and belongs to a local community group being set up online.
Elderly people need to be warned not to give their card to anyone unless it is a relative or close and trusted friend.

That's the thing isn't it. For people without friends and family they are at risk of falling for it or even hoping for the best because of desperation. I hope that in those cases the fraudsters get spotted and chased away by neighbours!

My local community centre asked for volunteers to fetch groceries for the elderly. But they had to stop because some of the volunteers were ripping people off. It was a godsend for the criminals - just volunteer and people will trust you with their money because it’s organised by the community centre.