Age UK Dorchester is working in partnership with the England Illegal Money Lending Team to protect its elderly clients from loan sharks, and to raise awareness of the signs to look out for when dealing with loan sharks, including the sort of behaviour and tactics commonly used by these illegal lenders.

A loan shark is someone who lends money illegally without the correct authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Peter Lindsley from Age UK said: "It’s easy to fall in to the grip of a loan shark; they seem friendly people at first, someone who may be well known in the community for helping others out financially. If you are struggling to pay an unexpected bill, or need a bit of extra cash with Christmas coming up, a loan shark is quick to help you out with a cash loan. The truth is that one you take out this cash loan, you may end up paying back significantly more than you think.

"Here at Age UK Dorchester, we understand it can sometimes be scary to ask for help, but if you call the Illegal Money Lending Team’s hotline on 0300 555 2222, you can speak to a member of the team anonymously or in confidence. They will let you know what your options are so that you can decide what to do.

"Older people are urged to never borrow money from someone if they have been provided with no or very little paperwork on loans, have had debts randomly increase, have had personal items taken as security on a loan (passport, driving licence, bank cards), or have received intimidation and threats from a money lender.

"You can check if someone is authorised to lend money by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority’s website and searching for a company, person, or postcode through their Financial Services Register."