The growing demands of the digital age come with pitfalls. Cybercrime and fraud can have a devastating impact, both financially and emotionally, on victims’ lives.
In January 2022 The Blue Lamp Trust launched the Cyber Bobby scheme to help older people, those with disabilities or who have been a victim of cyber crime to stay safe online.
The Cyber Bobby service is unique in offering home visits from our volunteer Cyber Advisors to give advice and guidance about basic IT security and how to avoid being affected by a cyber crime or a cyber enabled crime to the elderly and disabled in Hampshire.
The areas covered during a visit are:
- What is cyber crime?
- Cyber and scam prevention advice
- How to check privacy settings
- Signposting to other advice and resources
- How to report issues
- How to recognise scam emails and text messages
In the first year of the scheme we have visited 76 residents in Hampshire.
88% of these have been aged 60 and over.
23% of referrals were for people who had already been a victim of cyber crime.
Collectively our volunteer Cyber Advisors have donated over 135 hours of their time, visiting residents and giving talks to community groups.
One clients feedback; “It was wonderful, I learnt lots. It i a great service and I appreciated the advisors being so patient with me”.
Anyone can make an online referral for someone they know who may benefit from a visit
https://www.bluelamptrust.org.uk/about-cyber-bobby/
If you organise a community group in Hampshire and would like a Cyber Bobby Advisor to come and give a talk people can get in touch via cyber@bluelamptrust.org.uk
Do you have a background in IT? Could you be a volunteer Cyber Bobby Advisor? Email the team at cyber@bluelamptrust.org.uk for more information
