Sutaj Estok: Seniors Conned Out of €1.6 million This Year by Fraudsters

Nitra/Bratislava, 23 October (TASR) – The police have recorded more than 320 cases of attempted fraud against senior citizens so far this year, with fraudsters succeeding in over 120 cases and depriving the elderly of nearly €1.6 million, often from their life savings, said Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Voice–SD) in Nitra on Thursday. The minister took part in a lecture for seniors titled 'How Not to Become a Victim of Fraud', organised as part of a campaign by the Interior Ministry. Lectures are planned to take place in all eight regional capitals across Slovakia. The ministry has also launched other activities aimed at protecting seniors from various types of fraudsters. Fraud remains one of the most common crimes committed against the elderly. In cooperation with the Slovak Post Office, the ministry has sent out more than 320,000 letters containing information leaflets to them. "Next week, we should sign a joint memorandum with nearly 30 institutions that have decided to help to inform the elderly and support them in staying protected as part of prevention efforts," confirmed the minister. Besides the Slovak Post Office, telecommunications operators in Slovakia and the Slovak Central Bank (NBS) will join the project. "We'll agree on steps to improve cooperation with law-enforcement authorities so that we can work with operators to block various fraudulent phone numbers, both domestic and foreign," added Sutaj Estok. According to him, organised groups from abroad are often involved in these fraudulent activities. Jozef Halcin, who heads the crime prevention department at the Interior Ministry, confirmed that fraud targeting seniors has recently moved mainly into the online space through modern technologies. The Interior Ministry has prepared systemic measures to protect the elderly. One of these is the creation of 16 information offices for victims of crime. The offices are designed not only for seniors but also for young people and those of working age, providing them with counselling and support. mf/df