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Information: Financial exploitation and fraud committed against elders is growing at an alarming rate. Telemarketers and Internet schemers are not the only people trying to separate elders from their wealth. Often other culprits are much closer to home – family members and friends.
Support: The Essex County Elder Protection Roundtable is a partnership of law enforcement, healthcare, victim and elder service agencies working together to increase awareness and prevention of elder financial exploitation and fraud. Each agency specializes in helping elders, family members and professionals with questions or concerns regarding elder abuse and financial exploitation. Read on to find which agency is right for you:
The Massachusetts Elder Protective Services Program investigates allegations of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and self-neglect for people over age 60 in a discrete and confidential manner. Call the 24-hour, statewide Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-800-922-2275 if you suspect an elder is being mistreated.
Law Enforcement Contact your local police department if an elder is a victim of a scam or call 911 if an elder is in immediate danger.
Essex District Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal cases of financial exploitation and provides victim assistance throughout the prosecution of a case. If you have questions about the criminal justice system or the prosecution process, please call the District Attorney's Office at 978-745-6610 and speak with a Victim Witness Advocate.
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office provides dispute resolution services, resources and referral on a full range of concerns. Our statewide, toll-free telephone hotline 1-888-AG-ELDER (1-888-243-5337) is staffed by senior volunteers to help elders with concerns about Debt and Debt Collection Practices, Health Insurance, Home Improvement, Landlord/Tenant Issues, Scam Awareness and Telemarketing.
Massachusetts Money Management Program provides volunteers to help pay bills, write checks, balance a checkbook and even create a budget for elders and people with disabilities. All volunteers have background checks and are fully insured. There is also a Representative Payee Program for seniors who can no longer manage their monthly Social Security check.
Councils on Aging are a wealth of resources for any senior. Check out your local COA for workshops on identity theft, fraud awareness and how to protect yourself.
Solutions:
"Dealing with a family member who was dipping into grandpa's savings was a touchy subject. Protective Services looked into it right away and all my information was kept confidential." - Carol, Community Member
"My neighbor was paying an exorbitant amount to have her driveway paved, I felt like I had to do something. Calling the police saved my other neighbors from being targeted." - Paul, Community Member
"My husband was getting calls about a prize he had won. They told him all he had to do was deposit a check they sent him and use the money to pay taxes on his winnings. One call to the Attorney General's office let me know that this was too good to be true." - Joan, Community Member
"With my mom in Massachusetts and us in California, the Money Management Program assures me that her finances are taken care of, not taken advantage of." - Maggie, Client Family Member
"I learned all about identity theft at a workshop at my local council on aging. They always have information available about the latest scams." - Robert, Community Member
"Someone claimed they were going to fix my roof, which didn't need repairs, and pressured me into giving them a deposit up front. They never came back to do the repairs. I reported it to the police and they found the scam artist. But I was very confused and nervous about going to court. The Victim Witness Advocate from the Essex District Attorney's Office helped me through this process." – Lila, Community Member
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