This campaign is designed to raise awareness of the different types of financial abuse and who it can happen to.
Financial Abuse is the term used to describe harming someone by taking or defrauding them of their money, goods or property. It can include pressurising people to hand over benefits, sign over deeds to their home or to make changes to their will.
Financial abuse can happen anywhere and at any time, and affects people from all types of backgrounds. It can happen in a person’s home, care home, day centre, hospital or in a public place.
Adults at risk are people aged 18 or over who may be at risk because they are unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation due to learning or physical disabilities, sensory impairment, frailty or mental health problems.
Alan Lotinga, Chair of the Birmingham Safeguarding Adults Board said: “We’re asking members of the public to be our eyes and ears and to report any concerns that they may have about the financial abuse of vulnerable adults.
“It’s important that we ensure that adults at risk are protected from people who might abuse their goodwill or take advantage of their situation.
If you have concerns about an at risk adult, please give the Adults and Communities Access Point a call in confidence on 0121 303 1234 and press option one for Safeguarding.
For further information about the Eyes and Ears campaign please visit www.bsab.org/eyes-and-ears