Silver Surfers — Staying Safe Online

A friendly guide for older adults who want to use the internet with confidence. No jargon. No panic. Just clear, practical advice.

🥇 The Golden Rules

📞 Phone Scams — What to Do

Phone scams are the most common way criminals target older people.

• 1. If someone calls claiming to be your bank, HMRC, or the police — hang up.
• 2. Do not press any numbers. Some scams ask you to press 1 to speak to an advisor. Just hang up.
• 3. Register with TPS (tpsonline.org.uk). It is free and stops most legitimate sales calls.
• 4. If worried, tell someone. A family member, or call Age UK for advice on 0800 678 1174.

🚪 Doorstep Scams & Rogue Traders

Someone knocks on your door offering to fix your drive, clean your gutters, or resurface your roof. They want cash upfront. The work is never finished or done badly. This is a rogue trader scam.

• ❌ Say no firmly. You do not need to be polite to someone pressuring you at your door.
• ❌ Never pay upfront or sign anything at the door. Real traders provide written quotes.
• ✅ Check traders through TrustMark or Which? Trusted Traders before hiring.
• ✅ Report rogue traders to Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.

📮 Postal & Lottery Scams

Scammers send letters that look official telling you that you have won a lottery, prize draw, or sweepstake. To claim your winnings, you need to pay a fee first. The winnings never arrive.

• ❌ No real prize draw asks for money upfront. If you have to pay to claim, it is a scam.
• ✅ Show the letter to a family member or neighbour before responding.
• ✅ The British Postal Service warns that most lottery scam letters originate overseas.

👴 The Grandparent Scam

Someone calls pretending to be your grandchild. They sound upset. They say they are in trouble and need money urgently for bail, a car repair, or a hospital bill. They beg you not to tell anyone.

• ✅ Stop. Ask a question only your real grandchild would know. Scammers cannot answer.
• ✅ Call your grandchild on their real number to check. Hang up on the scammer first.
• ✅ Agree a family password with grandchildren in advance. Ask for the password if they call.

🏦 Couriers & Bank Card Scams

Someone calls pretending to be from your bank or the police. They say your card has been compromised and they are sending a courier to collect it. The courier arrives within an hour. Your card and PIN are gone.

• ❌ No bank, police, or any official will ever send a courier to collect your card. This is always a scam.
• ✅ Hang up. Wait 5 minutes and call your bank using the number on the back of your card.
• ✅ If a courier arrives, do not open the door. Call 999.

Useful Numbers