Protecting elderly parent from cold callers and scammers

[falstaff1980]

Just had a tree surgeon at my mother's door, wanting to cut back a tree he saw in the garden. Luckily I was there and told him no thanks, but my mother said to me if it had just been her there, she would have said yes (and I fear would not have agreed the price first).

I don't think the tree in question really needed trimming, it had been done fairly recently.

Most weekdays I won't be there though. I printed some business cards with my name and number and told my mother to give any such people my card, but I fear she will forget and agree to overpriced jobs.

Been here.

First thing is to fix a No Cold Calling sticker(s) to the door/front window/gatepost. Easy, cheap and does work to an extent.
Could you get a Ring doorbell but linked to your phone?

You could also try a notice "For access, please ring <your number>"

If she's aware she may make unwise decisions, saying "My son handles all the money for me" can be a useful way of causing a marked lack of interest in doing any "work" for her.

Or, with her permission, a Ring type doorbell linked to your mobile not hers.

Been there OP. In your shoes, I’d:-

1. get a Trucall phone screener. BT also do something similar. stop’s unsolicited calls but allows through friends and family
2. With permission, Become a signatory on bank accounts to monitor any large sums being moved.
3. With permission, install a Ring Doorbell.
4. Sort POA’s if you can.

it’s pretty awful watching parents become vulnerable but be mindful they can be unwilling to recognise their situation.

You need to make an unbreakable rule that they must not answer the door to anyone unless they are family or friends, or someone they are expecting, like the doctor. I'd also suggest that you put a note on the inside of the front door to remind them.

It does sound awful, but you need to scare them a bit and explain that there are bad people out there who want to con them out of their money. And that it doesn't matter who they say they are, they mustn't let them in or agree to anything without talking to you first. That applies to nice people phoning them up and asking to make appointments for any work doing to the house as well.

We eventually had MIL well-trained enough to say "bugger off!!" to randomers making cold phone calls. 😂

Age UK have a referral service- it's for phone scammers but they may have more advice too. Try their helpline?

Does she have much money in her current account? I've persuaded DM to move most of hers into an account that's online. She can't do online so I handle it for. There's no way she could make a withdrawal so it's not accessible to random door knockers.

A RIng door bell or visible CCTV will put off the majority of chancers like tree surgeons, who are usually anything but. I got a £30 camera that had an app on my smartphone to put near my Dad's front door and made sure that it was very visible from outside. I also set up BT call protect for him, and registered him with the TPS which put a stop to most marketing calls.