Keeping your
money safe
If you have been harmed financially,
please don’t be embarrassed to report it.
The harm might be happening to many other people.
Help and support is available.
In an emergency call 999.
If it is not an emergency you can call:
Police non-emergency reporting number
101
Adult Protection Phone Line
01383 602200
Deaf British Sign Language users
or someone with a hearing loss
should use the Police SMS service in an emergency.
If it is not an emergency use the
Fife Council SMS service: 07781 480 185
2
What is Financial Harm?
Harm is when someone hurts you or treats you
badly.
Financial harm means stopping you from having
your money or the things you own or making you
use your money in a way you don’t want to.
No-one should stop you from having or using
your own money.
No-one should try to steal your money or
benefits.
Anyone could harm you financially.
You could be harmed by someone you trust,
like family, staff or a friend.
Nobody should take control of your money
if you can do this for yourself.
Any person you choose to help you manage
your money should be someone you trust.
No-one should make decisions that are not right
for you, or you do not agree with.
What can
I do?
Call Adult
Protection
You can get help and support if you are being
harmed financially.
Do not be embarrassed to tell someone if you
are being harmed financially.
3
Who can I tell?
If you are worried about any kind of harm,
you can phone the Adult Protection Phone
Line.
The number is 01383 602200.
The person on the phone will:

Listen carefully to what you say and
ask you some questions about what
has happened

Make sure that you are safe

Tell the police if there has been a
suspected crime

Involve other people like social workers
and health service staff to find out what
has happened and keep you safe.
If it is an emergency always call 999.
If it is not an emergency you can call the
Police phone number 101.
4
Nobody should try to make you
do anything you don’t want to
do.
Nobody should ask you to buy them gifts if you
don’t want to.
Nobody should get you to buy things that you
don’t really need or want.
Nobody should ask you to buy things from
certain shops, so they can get the reward
points.
Nobody should ever move into your house if
you do not want them to, even if they are your
family or friends.
Nobody should live in your house without
giving you money for household bills and rent,
unless you both agree.
5
Cash machines
If you are using a cash machine and someone
is pushing into you or watching what you are
doing, press the ‘cancel’ button and walk away.
If you notice anything unusual about the cash
machine don’t use it.
Go into the bank and tell them what is wrong.
If the bank is closed there should be a phone
number on the cash machine.
Never let anyone help you at the cash
machine if you don’t need help.
Never let anyone put you off what you are
doing.
When you are finished, always put your money
and bank card away before leaving the cash
machine.
If the cash machine doesn’t return your card,
go into the bank and tell them, or phone the
emergency number for your bank.
Never walk about with your purse or wallet in
your hand.
Always keep your bag zipped up or closed.
Do not put your purse or wallet at the top of
your bag.
Do not put your wallet in your back pocket.
6
Social Networking
Never put any personal information on social
networking sites like Facebook or Twitter.
Personal information is your address, phone
number, date of birth or your bank account
details.
Use your privacy settings so that just ‘friends’
see your information. This way, you decide who
sees your information.
The website: http://swgfl.org.uk/ has safety
checklists for Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat &
Instagram.
Never post anything online that you wouldn’t
want other people to see.
Think carefully if you are using a webcam.
Do you know who you are speaking to?
Criminals can trick webcam users into doing
things they don’t want to do. The footage is
recorded and then used to blackmail victims
for money.
If this has happened to you call Police on 101.
Get internet safety advice at:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/

https://Staysafeonline.org

www.cyberstreetwise.com

http://safernet.org.uk/
7
You can also get advice from Citizens Advice & Rights Fife
(Money Advice Unit) by calling: 03451 400 094 or visit: www.carfweb.org/
If someone is stopping you from having your money or the things
you own call the Adult Protection Phone Line on 01383 602200.
www.fifedirect.org.uk/adultprotection
Revision 2: Published Jan 17