Jessica Beard

A third of online shoppers have been scammed on second-hand marketplaces in the past two years, a report claims. (Stock Image)

Activists fear they may not get anything at all, as the Government refused to commit to any payouts, and Labour, whose responsibility it may be after the general election, has stayed silent.

In a long-awaited report, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said millions of women were failed by the Government and could be owed up to £10.5 billion in payouts.

Victims, who were mainly aged 55 to 64, lost an average of £6,937 to scammers

From next April, an estimated 400,000 older people will be at risk of receiving unexpected tax demands and will have to start setting aside some of their state pension each month.

Government-back bank closed 6.2 per cent bonds rate five weeks after launch. NS&I had surprised savers in August when it lifted the rates of its bonds

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