Beware the phone scammers: BBC presenter reveals how his 83-year-old mother was ... trends now
A BBC presenter has revealed his mother was scammed out of £47,000 by fraudsters while she was being treated for cancer.
Michael Collie, 57, today warned children to look out for their elderly parents to ensure they are not being targeted by fraudsters.
The BBC presenter's 83-year-old mother Jo wrongly believed she was making payments to her son after being duped by thieves, he said.
He only found out about the scam when he took her for a drive and she casually mentioned that she was glad she had been able to help him financially.
Mrs Collie was registered as vulnerable with her bank but the payments were still approved. However they refunded the full amount.
This happened just a few months before she died in February last year.
Michael Collie, 57, today warned children to look out for their elderly parents to ensure they are not being targeted by fraudsters. Pictured with his mother Jo before her death last year
Mr Collie found out about the scam as he had never asked his mother for help and was shocked when checking with her bank that her account had been siphoned of £47,000.
He told BBC local radio today that it was a 'terrible, terrible time' when he discovered what had happened.
Mr Collie said he had 'absolutely no idea' the scam was going on, despite seeing his mother regularly through the period.
Age Concern said that 41 per cent of people aged over 50 years have had some kind of scam happen to them within the last five years.
Mr Collie told the BBC that he and his wife were taking his mother, who lived in Prestbury, Cheltenham, out for the day when they found out about the scam.
'She lived in a sheltered home near me and I was able to pop in quite a lot and I felt I knew what was going on,' he said.
'We were driving along and mum said "I hope you're feeling better" and
