Keeping adults in Orkney safe and protected from financial harm

With the number of adult support and protection referrals trebling in Orkney over the past three years, the Council is keen to raise awareness of financial harm affecting older people in the county. 

The theme for this year’s National Adult Support and Protection Awareness Day on 20 February, is “Financial Harm Affecting Older Adults”. 

Lynne Nicolson, Team Manager, Social Worker and Mental Health Officer with Orkney Health and Care, said as part of their adult support and protection procedures, they have developed separate practitioner guidance specifically for financial harm. 

Lynne said: “Over the past three years our adult support and protection referrals have trebled and continue to rise, primarily due to increased awareness around adult support and protection. Whilst many of the referrals relate to physical and/or sexual harm and neglect, there are a growing number concerning financial harm so we felt we needed separate guidance to ensure that as far as possible, we could safeguard our vulnerable adults affected in Orkney. 

“Any one of us can be a victim of financial harm and the perpetrator can be someone we know and trust or, an individual or unknown group based in a different part of the world, preying on potentially vulnerable adults. 

“There are many potential indicators of financial harm such as a change in living conditions, a sudden inability to pay bills, unexplained withdrawals from an account or unexplained loss/misplacement of financial documents and the recent addition of authorised signatories on a client’s account. This is just a snapshot, there are many more.” 

Some examples of financial harm can include: theft of money or possession; fraud, scamming; preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets; undue pressure, duress, threat or undue influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions; arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance; someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress and false representation, using another person’s bank account, cards or documents. There are many more. 

Lynne continued: “Many people associate financial harm with the internet and online ‘scammers’ or romance ‘scammers’ and whilst these are prevalent, financial harm can happen a lot closer to home. 

“We work closely with other agencies such as the Office of the Public Guardian and Police Scotland when concerns arise, and we have legal powers when necessary to request and examine financial records e.g. bank accounts, to determine if harm is evident. I would remind everyone that your bank will never call you and ask for log in details, a password or PIN Number – hang up and if you are worried, call the telephone number for your bank printed on the back of your card and report the call.”  

To assist in dealing with phone scammers, Orkney Scam Action Group can supply technology such as “call blockers” to prevent nuisance calls.  

If you are worried that someone you know may be being harmed either financially or by any other means, then please contact Adult Social Work on 01856 873535.