What drew your interest in elder abuse? I was fascinated by con artists as a kid. When I was in college I was a police officer and found that most of the cases involving fraud were not prosecuted. I thought it was terrible that the people who could least afford to lose what they have… Read More
Protect Yourself from Imposter Scams There are ways that you and your loved ones can protect yourself against imposter scams. Never wire money to someone before you have verified the identity of the person with whom you are communicating. This may mean hanging up and calling the person back, or checking with other family members, or… Read More
Joan, 81, received a call from a woman claiming to be her 52 year old daughter. “This doesn’t sound like you,” said Joan. The caller ignored her, saying that she had bounced checks for her car insurance and was at the bank. “I’m so embarrassed, Mom—I need cash right away.” Joan offered to come to… Read More
When thinking of elder financial abuse, the culprit is expected to be some mysterious stranger who swoops in to manipulate and exploit you. However, this is rarely the case. Studies show that 90% of elder abusers are actually members of their own families. Victims find it hard to recognize, accept, and report that the culprit is… Read More
A New York study concluded that only 1 in 44 cases of elder financial abuse is reported. One reason? The sad truth is that many cases of elder abuse occur in families. Some kids are under the unfortunate misimpression that they’re ENTITLED to their parents’ money. If Mom or Dad suffers from dementia, they may… Read More
Twenty-five years ago, domestic violence was referred to as a hidden crime. Any abuse occurring within the household was routinely considered to be that family’s dirty little secret. Slowly but surely, this ugly epidemic was outed by the national media. We stopped turning our heads when witnessing violence between husband and wife and intimate partners…. Read More
