A TONBRIDGE charity is encouraging retailers to help the town centre become safer for those with dementia as they warn that vulnerable people are being conned out of thousands of pounds.
Ahead of their advisory Business Exchange on Friday [April 28], charity Dementia Friendly Tonbridge have said that susceptibility to scamming is scaring off those with the condition from shopping.
The event will offer the town’s traders a chance to learn how they can be more accommodating to people with the disease with a series of talks and workshops as well as information stalls.
Spokesperson Billie Negus explained: “When using a bank, 66 per cent of people with dementia need some assistance. This can open people up to scammers taking advantage of that person.
“It could be someone asking them to withdraw cash for something and telling them it’s to pay for something but then they take it or it could be that they’ve just been told to do it and don’t know why.
“By working together we can help reduce the amount of money being scammed out of our local shoppers.”
She applauded taxi firm Castle Cars who have pledged to ensure their drivers look out for vulnerable customers and say they have averted incidents where it looked like a passenger with dementia was being manipulated as they went to the cash point.
To register for the Business Exchange event at the Angel Centre, which runs from 3.30-6pm on Friday April 28, call 01732 759854 or book via www.eventbrite.co.uk, searching ‘Tonbridge Business Exchange’
