Articles Tagged with Elder Financial and Investment Fraud

Research suggests nearly 40% of American seniors may experience financial abuse

Across the U.S., millions of seniors each year become the victims of fraudulent financial and investment scams. In fact, one recent survey reported that 37% of senior caregivers said their client had been a victim of financial fraud or abuse – and alarmingly, 40% of caregivers surveyed said that their client had been victimized more than once. The perpetrators, many of whom are family members, often take advantage of a senior’s reduced mental capacity in order to persuade or pressure them into making serious financial mistakes.

To fix this problem, a variety of organizations, including state governments and nonprofits like AARP, have started initiatives to expand education for seniors, improve awareness and reporting among financial and healthcare workers, and increase the severity of punishment for those found guilty of elder fraud.