Older people can cut down the risks of falling victim to bogus callers, reports STEPHEN LEWIS.Help is just a phone call away.

AUDREY was so terrified of youngsters continually knocking on her door that she became a virtual prisoner in her home.

The pensioner, in her 70s, lives in an ordinary York suburb, and got to the stage where she was frightened to go out in case they were waiting around the corner.

She wouldn't even open her door.

She couldn't even sleep at night. "She had visions of them breaking into her back garden and trying to get into the house while she was asleep," says James Player, of the charity Age Concern York.

Audrey is not her real name but her case is typical of the way in which frail elderly people living alone can be haunted by fear and insecurity out of all proportion to the cause.

It didn't take much to make Audrey's life better. Age Concern staff visited her home and carried out a free security survey.

They fitted door and window locks free of charge, which made her feel safer - and infra-red security lights which click on at night if someone comes near.

That gave her peace of mind to be able to sleep again, knowing if anyone came into her garden she would be woken up in time to call for help.

The simple security measures have transformed her life.

"She's really over the moon about it," says John Rogers, the charity's Practical Services manager.

Ironically, it is often the people old folk would never dream of being frightened of that are the most risky.

"You often find older people are not actually at risk from younger people," says James.

"They may be intimidated by them, frightened of them. But actually they are much more at risk from people who are plausible bogus callers who may be smoothly dressed and well-spoken."

The problem of conmen preying on vulnerable elderly people has become so serious in this region that North Yorkshire County Council has launched an early-warning email network, to help reduce doorstep crime by informing police and householders about any suspicious activity in the county.

Bogus callers are just as much of a problem in York itself.

Typically, says James, they will pretend to be workmen offering to do some work on your house.

One recent case was of an elderly woman in York who had a man knock on her door claiming to be a builder.

There had been high winds, and he told her some tiles had slipped off her roof. He offered to fix it. She parted with about £400 in cash - only for the "workman" to leave her roof worse than she had found it.

A new survey has revealed that in North Yorkshire alone, as many as 20 per cent of people have had a "bad experience" with people calling, unbidden, at their doorstep.

What is really worrying, however, is that despite repeated warnings, only 13 per cent of people said they would check the ID of callers - and only four per cent used a door chain or similar security device.

James Player believes the problem of conmen preying on the elderly and vulnerable could even be more serious than the figures reveal - because many who have been targeted are ashamed by having been conned so easily and do not come forward.

His message is simple: "Old people have no need to deal with cold-callers in any shape or form."

If elderly people need odd jobs or repairs doing around the house, Age Concern runs a Home Services Directory, funded by York Trading Standards, which lists reliable local traders who do a decent job for a fair price.

So there is no need to be tricked by a conman cold-calling at your door, says James.

Through its Home Security Service, funded by Safer York Partnership, the charity can also provide a free security survey of elderly people's homes and install extra security measures such as door and window locks, door chains and infra-red lighting.

The charity can also help older people who are worried, or who have been victimised, to contact the police.

James says older people need never feel alone.

"They can call us during office hours and talk to someone here, and, if necessary, we will go out to see them," he says.

Age Concern York can be contacted on 01904 621020 or 627995.

To find out more about the Home Services Directory, call John Rogers on 01904 427150.

The charity would also like to hear from tradesmen interested in being included in the directory.

Updated: 10:09 Wednesday, August 20, 2003