Financial exploitation of seniors targeted by educational program

In an effort to prevent seniors from falling victim to scams and fraudulent schemes, the Carroll County State's Attorney's Office has launched an education program that is targeted at elder financial abuse.

"We're going to try to get across to seniors No. 1 the realization that everyone's at risk," Carroll County Chief Deputy State's Attorney Kathleen C. Murphy said. "There are misconceptions that seniors who are shut-ins are the primary target or seniors who may be cognitively compromised are the targets, and that is not really, in my experience, the case."

The office's Economic Crimes Unit has scheduled seminars at county senior centers to educate the community about financial scams targeting seniors. Five sessions have been scheduled in October and November, where information will be presented about common scams and red flags of financial elder abuse, Murphy said.

Murphy said seniors aren't necessarily targets of fraudulent schemes and scams specifically because of vulnerability.

"They're targeted because of their nest eggs; because of their income and assets," Murphy said. "So we definitely want to increase awareness that people who may not consider themselves as likely victims very well could be."

There are two distinct groups of perpetrators carrying out financial crimes against senior citizens: known predators, including family members and caregivers; and strangers who typically carry out financial scams, Murphy said.

Although financial scams are often carried out by strangers, the perpetrators of exploitation cases are often somebody known to the victim, such as family members or caregivers, Murphy said.  (Continue Reading)

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Financial exploitation of seniors targeted by educational program