Dementia sufferer conned by mail scams

A Plymouth couple is urging others to keep an eye on elderly family members after their 84-year old brother fell prey to a series of scams.

The retired couple from Peverell were shocked when they visited their brother’s home elsewhere in the city while he was in hospital and found hundreds of goods purchased in order to enter various prize draws as well as draw mailing invoices.

The elderly gentleman has dementia and has accumulated a hoard of goods. Examples include:

69 pedicure scissors
more than 50 false teeth holders and brushes – the gentleman did not have false teeth
96 bottles of collar stain remover
a large amount of bath sponges
100 bars of soap
153 tubes of shower gel
a large box of bottles of capsules
a large quantity of lip balm, batteries, torches, scouring pads, sewing kits, thermometers, nutcrackers
a large number of knives.

Trading Standards officers are still working with the family to investigate the extent of the scams, but believe the tally could run into thousands of pounds. As they have not yet got a court of protection order, it could be some time before the family knows how much their relative has spent.

The Peverell man said: “We’re still quite shocked and don’t know where to start. There was a pile of post about a metre high. Every cupboard seems to hide more goods that he’s paid for. Things he did not need. We had no idea he was doing this.

“It looks as though he is on some list. There’s envelopes from France, Belgium, Ireland and Switzerland, many of them indicating he’s won a prize, so sadly he has responded to them.

“We’ve had to throw away about 20kg of sweets and chocolates and have already packaged up four boxes of one product to send back to one of the companies.”

Tina Powell, Trading Standards Enforcement Officer said: “The family kindly agreed to share their experience so that others might be more aware of what can happen.

“Sadly, elderly people and particularly those with dementia can fall prey to scammers. We are still looking in detail at the extent of this case, but it appears the gentleman has been targeted by two types: those that bombard people with letters to say they have won a prize, providing they send an administration fee and those that are catalogue-based and sell very expensive products, but lure people in with prize draws. Often they are told that they have won something and all they have to do is buy a product from the company. Clearly this gentleman has responded many, many times to them.

“As long as people carry on responding to them, they will keep going.”

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: “This is a really sad story – not just for the victim but for the family, who are now trying to sort the mess that has been created by unscrupulous companies.

“If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. We would particularly like carers and neighbours of more vulnerable people to keep an eye out for scam mail and contact Trading Standards if they are concerned.”

Trading Standards accept that it can be difficult to keep an eye on vulnerable relatives, friends or neighbours without being too intrusive, but there are a few things people can watch for: