Call from her bank to my very elderly mum.

I’d definitely get in touch with the bank. I’m pretty certain they’ll confirm this is a scam. Your mum’s being groomed.

I would be concerned for the same reasons as you are nonogran
TBH I dont know if it is a scam or not but it certainly sounds as like it.

Scam or not, it means your mother is more like to respond to a spam call when she does get it because she is so accustomed to getting regular calls from the bank.

The bank should be told, in wrting, with your mothesigned consent that if they need to phone her they must phone you, possibly change the phone number on the account to yours.

It then means that your mother will know with absolute confidence that anyone ringing her claiming to be the bank, are scammers and she should just put the receiver down.

I would go into the Bank, preferably with your mother, and ask them about these calls, who is making them and why.
It does sound like a scam to me.
If it is a genuine concern to protect an elderly customer, you can set up a code/password for future contact.

I support an elderly ( can get confused) neighbour who gets regular phone calls from NatWest. In fact last week they sent her a beautiful hamper.
I too am a little concerned that she might fall for the lovely young man on the phone
I do, in a subtle way try to educate her in these calls. I have to be careful as she gets very defensive if there’s any suggestion that she might be getting confused.

I can't imagine any bank phoning your mum out of the blue.

Contact your mums bank.

Buy her a phone which only allows people from her contacts list getting through.
She only will need to put the phone down they will soon get tired of ringing if it's a scam.

She will also be able to block numbers.

Could it be that your mother's health is not as good as you think it is?

jeanie99 some banks have been ringing vulnerable customers during COVID, to ensure that they are OK, its a sort of a caring sharing bank thing.

Unfortunately like a number of wellmeaning gestures during the last year, it hasn't been very well thought through and could leave a vulnerable person more likely to respond to a scam bank call.

All unsolicited calls should be considered suspicious. You were right to tell them not to ring your mum.

It doesn't sound quite right to me. It could be that the banks are genuinely contacting elderly customers in the current climate. However, scammers could well see a way to abuse this to their advantage. Phone the bank and then tell your Mum not to talk to anyone claiming to be from her bank. That's not the way they usually do business.

Whilst it's admirable that your Mums bank are taking the initiative to check in with her I completely agree that this could lead to her being scammed by someone who she thinks is genuinely concerned for her welfare.
In your position I would certainly ask them cease calling her and explain your motives.

Nonogran You say: My mum is well into her nineties, sees family throughout the week and has no dementia issues at all. She is totally ambulant, in good health for her great age and that she's in agreement that they should stop. Has she ever told them to stop ring when they call?

You could write the letter for her and get her to sign it.

If you have Power of Attorney you can get the number, the bank hold, changed. You might struggle otherwise.

It does sound very suspicious though. It sounds like they have rung a few times.

The phone calls sound odd to me, and I suspect may be a scam, trying to lull your mother into a sense of security first, before going in for the big scam.However, to be sure, you really do need to contact her bank to ask if they are phoning and if they are, point out to them that it's not a very wise thing to be doing considering the world we live in now with all the horrible scams around.
The banks would be very busy indeed if they were to phone all their elderly customers to check they were ok, which is why I feel somewhat suspicious.

For all you doubting thomases.
Look at this. Scroll down to the number given.
I’ve checked with my neighbour and this is the number given to her by NatWest.
Now you can think that this website is a scam.

MerylStreep
Look at What?

I thought, only the other day, that the tv adverts for banks were more like an advertisement for mental health services than banking. Lloyds bank, for instance, are by your side. There’s no branches left open so how they have the cheek to say that is mind boggling. I can quite believe that it is the bank contacting your mum. Quite why they are more interested in her health than providing a good service financially is amazing. Good luck in getting it sorted.

My bank rings quite frequently, to give them their due they do text first to ask if if is convenient.
My calls are part of the Premier banking service and because I have difficulty getting into a branch.

I was only thinking yesterday how I miss the people who knew my face and usual transactions and queries over the counter. Same with the small local shops that were around for years. The others change staff all the time even the small independents seemed to change staff a lot. I think it was better for security but expense the banks decision. I agree lovely gesture but not one of their best ideas.

I ve never ever had a phone call off my high street bank to enquire if I m ok covid or no CoviD
I would definitely check if these are genuine or not and ask them to cease

MerylStreep

For all you doubting thomases.
Look at this. Scroll down to the number given.
I’ve checked with my neighbour and this is the number given to her by NatWest.
Now you can think that this website is a scam.

Scammers and fraudsters have used this pandemic to their advantage. The increase in this type of crime has been phenomenal since the 1st lockdown and any one of us could be targeted by these odious people. I think we are right to be doubting Thomas's. We are warned to be cautios and are told time and time again not to divulge any information on telephone calls, texts and dubious e-mail links. Nonogran is doing her best to protect her Mum. Good for her.

cautious.

I was of the understanding that the banks don't call you. If they wish to let you know something it's by post.
Once upon a time they might have rang you but not now.

I've had bank ring me but not recognising the number didn't answer. After the 3rd time of trying they left a message thanking me for feedback on my last visit to the branch. Have now taken note of the number which is my local branch.

I appreciate that some will not want to read this article.
But within it there is this.
The thing that I’m most proud of, are the proactive calls made to our customers, particularly those over 65. Overall we made 330,000 calls to those customers
www.business-live.co.uk/partners/how-banking-giant-natwest-adapted-19067217