The study, which looked at programs aimed at fighting fraud that targets the elderly in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York, said that out of misguided concern they might breach federal privacy laws, banks and other financial institutions are sometimes reluctant to share information with agencies that work to protect older people from financial crimes.
"Banks are well-positioned to recognize, report, and provide evidence supporting investigations," said Kay E. Brown, director of Education, Workforce, and Income Security at the GAO. "However, many social-services and law enforcement officials we spoke with indicated banks do not always recognize and report exploitation or provide evidence needed to investigate it."
The report was released at the outset of a hearing Thursday before the Senate Special Committee on Aging in Washington on efforts nationally to combat elder financial abuse.
It comes one year after the indictment of Philadelphia lawyer Michael Kwasnik by a New Jersey state grand jury on charges of stealing $1.1 million from a Cherry Hill widow who had hired him for estate planning and to manage her money.
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Banks Can Help Defend Elderly Against Scams
Why does the Aging Committee assign the GAO to inves4tigate and report and then do nothing?
ReplyDeleteThelma,
ReplyDeleteThis is an excellent point. (Another government committee example would be my "OPPAGA Report" article ... http://www.exploitationelderly.com/The-OPPAGA-Report.html ...)
The only good that I see is media coverage that increases public awareness as a result of the committee reports.
Joe
That's the $64K question, Thelma! The Senate Special Committee on Aging has been a dog and pony show while Senator Herb Kohl has been in charge. Let's hope he is replaced by a Senator who will take some action against guardianship and conservatorship abuse!
ReplyDelete