Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP calls for greater safeguards against online scams
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Jamie Stone is urging the UK government to step up its efforts over internet fraud.
He wants pressure to be put on social media companies to provide greater safeguards against online scammers, with older people said to be particularly susceptible.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, attended a parliamentary drop-in event marking five years of TSB’s Fraud Refund Guarantee.
It was held ahead of all major UK banks being required to refund victims of fraud. In spite of this, TSB has called for more prevention.
Mr Stone is now asking the UK government’s data and digital infrastructure minister Julia Lopez what she is doing to help vulnerable elderly people protect their personal data.
According to TSB customers, 75 per cent of all fraud cases occur online. Eighty-six per cent of these scams are carried out via social media.
Mr Stone said: “When my 91-year-old mother died, I adopted her landline for sentimental reasons. For months after that, I kept getting scam calls offering all sorts of dodgy products.
“It is clear that the elderly, more than anyone else, are susceptible to this type of fraud. This is why more needs to be done to protect their personal data.
“I would advise all my constituents to be vigilant and read TSB’s top five tips to avoid fraud online.
“However, the government should also call upon social media companies to implement greater safeguards against these scams. It is not only the responsibility of the individual.
“Industries must also take accountability for the ways their platforms enable these criminals, and do something to stop them.”
