Staying Safe in a Digital World: Chartwell House Hosts Fraud Prevention Seminar

Chartwell House by Boutique Care Homes hosted an engaging and insightful Fraud Prevention and Internet Security event on 4th February 2025. Residents, their loved ones, and members of the Chartwell House team gathered to learn essential strategies for protecting themselves from online threats.

Expert speakers Mike Andrews and Gemma Barnes, Local Specialists from Barclays, led an in-depth session on online privacy and fraud protection. They explained why safeguarding personal information online is crucial, highlighting the rising risk of identity theft among younger generations. They cautioned about “sharenting”—where parents overshare their children’s information on social media—warning that by 2030, two-thirds of identity theft cases could involve young people. Their advice focused on managing digital footprints, updating privacy settings regularly, and deleting outdated online content.

The Barclays team also discussed common scam tactics, including phishing (email), vishing (telephone), and smishing (SMS), which are increasingly used in combination by fraudsters. They introduced attendees to the Take 5 Campaign – Stop, Challenge, Protect, encouraging individuals to pause and verify before sharing sensitive information.

Emma Swietochowski-Hay, Fraud Prevention Coordinator at Kent Police, shed light on the growing scale of fraud, explaining that it accounts for 40% of all crime, with only 7% reported, due to feelings of stigma and embarrassment. She emphasised the importance of prevention and shared practical steps to help attendees avoid scams, introducing the ABC approach:

• A: Never Assume
• B: Never Believe
• C: Always Confirm

Emma also informed attendees about the importance of reporting fraud to services like Action Fraud. Suspicious texts can be forwarded to 7726, and phishing emails sent to report@phishing.gov.uk.

Diane Collins, Home Manager at Chartwell House, expressed the significance of the event: “We are committed to protecting our residents and empowering them to live safely in a digital world. Fraud and scams are becoming more sophisticated, so raising awareness of these dangers and sharing tools to prevent them is crucial to their security and peace of mind.”

Jude Coveney, Admissions Manager, added: “This event was a fantastic opportunity to educate not only our residents but also their families and our team. Fraud prevention is a community effort, and by sharing knowledge, we can all play a role in keeping each other safe from scams and online threats.”

The event was well-received, with attendees expressing their appreciation for the practical advice and resources provided. Chartwell House will continue to organise events focused on education, safety, and wellbeing, further solidifying its role as a trusted community hub.

For more information about Chartwell House and upcoming events, please contact 01843 260 970.