Oxfordshire County Council has recently been made aware of two incidents in Oxfordshire where vulnerable adults were targeted by scam phone calls, with attempts made to obtain money from their bank accounts.

In one case, a care worker was present and intervened, preventing any loss. In the second, the individual’s bank identified the suspicious transaction, stopped the payment, and issued a replacement bank card.

Please remind staff to remain vigilant and, where appropriate, encourage people receiving support to:

• Avoid making payments over the phone unless they are certain of the caller’s identity.
• Be cautious of unexpected calls requesting money or personal banking information.
• Contact a trusted family member, representative, or organisation directly if they are unsure.
• Consider using call screening or call-blocking technology where appropriate.
• Report any concerns regarding potential financial abuse in line with safeguarding procedures.

Please share this message with relevant staff and continue supporting people to stay safe from financial scams.

Read about this and more in our weekly newsletter for 5 August 2026