Cash cons and physical violence referrals in Angus are flooding in at a rate of more than one a day.
New figures from the county’s health and social care partnership show men are now more likely to be targets than women who were previously under greatest threat.
Police accounted for 83% of all referrals to the Angus Adult Protection Committee, making 1,049 in the last four years.
Just 22 referrals came from members of the public.
Councillor Lois Speed.The statistics emerged in the wake of a number of recent incidents including a Forfar resident who lost a five figure sum in a mobile phone scam and a Brechin OAP who was conned out of almost £20,000 in an IT con.
Supermarket staff in Forfar were also praised for intervening to prevent a vulnerable customer losing hundreds of pounds in an ITunes card swindle.
Arbroath East and Lunan Councillor Lois Speed said the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership took adult protection matters seriously.
“It is reassuring to see positive progress being made and works being delivered to help protect and keep our most vulnerable citizens within Angus safe,” she said.
“It’s evident that physical and financial abuse is the most prevalent, however any form of abuse is unacceptable and greatly impacts on those who are affected.
She said it was vital that everyone remain on remains on guard and urged people to report concerns about vulnerable adults in the community who may become targets of criminals.
“We can all play our part and be vigilant,” she said.
A report on the work of the Angus Adult Protection Committee, which is responsible for ensuring agencies work together to protect adults who may be at risk of harm, has outlined the scale of the challenges faced in the county.
Financial harm includes theft, fraud, pressure to hand over or sign over property or money, being scammed by rogue traders or online scams.
It is believed the money lost by Angus people to scammers runs into millions of pounds each year, with some residents in the county losing their entire life savings.
Angus Council has been working to spread awareness about the issue and has warned residents not to give card or bank details to anyone over the phone.
Anyone receiving a call where these details are requested should hang up immediately.
People should be suspicious if they are contacted out of the blue by phone, text, mail, at their door, by email or through the internet, or where up-front payment is required.
