April 15, 2012 – Roanoke, VA – BBB receives hundreds of phone calls each year from senior citizens who have been targeted or victimized by scammers. These can range from common scams such as bogus travel deals or lottery schemes to outright financial fraud.
“One of the more common types of abuse that BBB often hears about is financial fraud,” said Julie Wheeler, President & CEO of BBB Serving Western VA. “Many victims do not realize they have been taken advantage of, or if they do know, they may not want to tell anyone due to embarrassment or fear of losing what independence they may have.”
Financial elder abuse occurs when a seniors’ banking or credit accounts are exploited by scammers who take advantage of the vulnerabilities sometimes associated with age.
Unfortunately financial elder abuse can be difficult to identify. It often takes a caring family member, friend or caregiver to recognize that fraud has occurred. These are some signs to look for:
- Belongings or property is missing
- Unusual bank account activity
- Complaints from seniors that suddenly they can not afford normal purchases
- Suspicious stories about people that normally wouldn’t be involved in personal affairs now being involved
- Unnecessary purchases (often big-ticket items)
- Sudden changes to Power of Attorney or will
- Sudden interest in an investment or business opportunity
- Claims they have won a prize, lottery or vacation
- Numerous unpaid bills or bounced checks
If you or someone you know might be a victim of Elder Abuse contact your local law enforcement agency.
If you need more information, contact the BBB at (540) 342-3455 or (800) 533-5501. You can also visit www.bbb.org. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/BBB_WesternVA.
