September 26, 2012
Nurse Indicted for Patient Abuse, Drug Possession
Nina Perez, 31, of Berwick, Maine indicted by Rockingham County Grand Jury following her arrest in August that she deprived a patient of morphine at Edgewood Centre.
By Robert Cook
September 24, 2012
A Berwick, Maine woman who authorities say deprived an elderly patient of morphine so she could take the drug at a Portsmouth elderly care facility has been indicted by a Rockingham County Grand Jury.
Nina Perez, 31, of 93A Rochester St. in Berwick, Maine was indicted in September for one felony count of possession of a controlled drug and indicted for another felony count of abuse of facility patients while she worked as a nurse in May at the Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth.
According to court documents, Perez allegedly deprived one elderly patient of morphine so she could use it on May 19, 2012.
SOURCE: PortsmouthNHPatch
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September 21, 2012
Nursing Assistant Pleads 'Not Guilty'
Nursing Assistant Pleads 'Not Guilty' to Charges of Elder Abuse at Jamaica Plain Nursing Home
Prosecutors say Marie Romelus, 48, struck an elderly person in her care at the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain.
By Chris Helms
September 18, 2012
[Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Attorney General's Office.]
A former Certified Nursing Assistant at the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain was arraigned today in connection with the alleged assault of a 70-year-old disabled resident at the facility, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today.
Marie Romelus, 48, of Hyde Park, is charged with assault and battery on an elderly person. She was arraigned in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court.
In June 2012, the AG’s Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Authorities allege that in May 2012, Romelus physically assaulted the victim when she became resistant to care. According to a witness, Romelus allegedly struck the victim, who has suffered a stroke and has long-term cognitive impairment, twice on the chest with her hand while the victim was lying in her bed.
On Tuesday, Romelus pleaded not guilty before Judge Ernest Sarason and was released on personal recognizance. She was ordered not to provide services to elders or people with disabilities. Romelus is due back in court on Nov. 13, 2012 for a pre-trial conference.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kriss Basil and is being investigated by Investigators Jessica Roy and Robert Ames, all of AG Coakley’s Medicaid Fraud Division.
SOURCE: The JamaicaPlain Patch
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Prosecutors say Marie Romelus, 48, struck an elderly person in her care at the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain.
By Chris Helms
September 18, 2012
[Editor's note: The following is a press release from the Attorney General's Office.]
A former Certified Nursing Assistant at the Armenian Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain was arraigned today in connection with the alleged assault of a 70-year-old disabled resident at the facility, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced today.
Marie Romelus, 48, of Hyde Park, is charged with assault and battery on an elderly person. She was arraigned in the West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court.
In June 2012, the AG’s Office began an investigation after the matter was referred by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Authorities allege that in May 2012, Romelus physically assaulted the victim when she became resistant to care. According to a witness, Romelus allegedly struck the victim, who has suffered a stroke and has long-term cognitive impairment, twice on the chest with her hand while the victim was lying in her bed.
On Tuesday, Romelus pleaded not guilty before Judge Ernest Sarason and was released on personal recognizance. She was ordered not to provide services to elders or people with disabilities. Romelus is due back in court on Nov. 13, 2012 for a pre-trial conference.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Kriss Basil and is being investigated by Investigators Jessica Roy and Robert Ames, all of AG Coakley’s Medicaid Fraud Division.
SOURCE: The JamaicaPlain Patch
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September 20, 2012
Elder Abuse Awareness
September 19, 2012
seMissourian.com
Anyone who has placed a father, mother, grandparent or other relative in a nursing home knows how hard it is to make the decision. We all want our independence, but health problems require the move for many older people.
While this area is fortunate to have several facilities that offer excellent care, a case emerged recently where, according to police, a local nursing home employee admitted to hitting a resident on the right side of her face. In this case, the local nursing home took immediate and decisive action, and the person no longer works there. But the broader issue of elder abuse remains.
The Southeast Missourian recently reported that according to estimates, 1 million to 2 million Americans age 65 or older have been mistreated in some capacity by a caregiver. With these figures and a local connection in mind, we ask: How do we prevent this kind of abuse?
For nursing homes, it's important to make good hires. There are many who choose caregiving as a profession. It's a noble calling, and we thank those who show this compassion. Nevertheless, it's important that nursing homes have a thorough hiring process and provide ongoing oversight.
The elderly receiving care also have a responsibility. While some may not be in a position to speak up for themselves, others can. These individuals should feel free to express their concerns to a trusted caregiver, a family member or friend. By speaking up, you may be able to prevent someone else from being injured or otherwise mistreated.
Family members also have a responsibility. By making regular visits, talking with your loved one and asking questions, you can play a vital role in preventing abuse.
There are few things more gut-wrenching than finding out someone has been abused. But with proper vigilance, your efforts may prevent the mistreatment of someone else.
To learn more about elder abuse, go to www.health.mo.gov/safety/abuse. To report abuse, call Missouri's Elder Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 800-392-0210.
SOURCE: The SEMissourian
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Elderly exploiters can be ‘so smooth’
by Trevor Baratko
Sep. 18, 2012
“Grandma, before you say anything, I want you to know I
don’t do drugs. But I have a problem.”
With those words, the world seemed to stop for Georgiana
Moser of Leesburg.
The call came one morning earlier this summer. Moser was
sleeping in, something she said she rarely does. Still waking up, she answered
and heard that soft, timid sentence from who she thought was her grandson,
William.
“Please don’t tell mom and dad. The officer will tell you
what to do,” the young man continued.
William and a friend, it was soon explained by a so-called
cop, had been traveling through Canada in a rental car. After being pulled over
for speeding, the cop said, a small amount of drugs was found in the trunk.
“He told me, ‘the drugs weren’t enough to be considered trafficking,
and, given it’s a rental car, the drugs may not even be his,’” Moser recalled
the cop telling her.
“He really said it’s just a case of William being in the
wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.
This cop was just “so smooth,” Moser explained. Kind and
calming, the officer told Moser that her grandson had spent the night in jail
with his friend. The friend’s parents had just sent money for bond, and William
wanted to call his grandma to see if she’d be willing to shell out the bond
money.
“He said he really didn’t want his parents to find out,”
Moser, 83, said.
Two-thousand dollars. Moser would need to send $2,000 to get
her only grandson out of a Canadian jail, later described vaguely as the
“Montreal jail” by the officer. The grandmother could wire the money to a local
bondsman, but that would mean the arrest would be permanently on the young
man’s record, the cop claimed. If she wired the money to a different bond
company, one in South America, the arrest wouldn’t show up on his record, however.
Reflecting on that morning weeks later, Moser can see that
maybe she wasn’t thinking straight. She wasn’t entirely awake, she notes. But
more than anything, the man pretending to be a cop was just “so convincing.” He
slowly walked her through what happened, stressed that her grandson hadn’t
necessarily done anything wrong and wasn’t in danger, and carefully detailed
what needed to be done in order to ensure the grandson’s safety.
For seniors themselves, measures they can take to avoid being the target of fraud include:
*Eliminating paper checks – social security, disability, insurance – whenever possible and opting for direct deposit;
*Keeping in touch with friends and family to avoid isolation;
*Placing the senior’s number on the do-not-call registry (donotcall.gov);
*Issuing a trusted friend or relative the power of attorney;
*Never giving out any personal banking or credit card info to anyone who seems suspect.
Moreover, if a financial, medical or insurance offer requires a quick decision, refrain from acting in haste. For her part, Moser expounds on this line of thought.
“If something like this happens, just take 30 minutes and calm down. Take 30 minutes and go to the sheriff’s office and talk about what happened,” she says.
*Eliminating paper checks – social security, disability, insurance – whenever possible and opting for direct deposit;
*Keeping in touch with friends and family to avoid isolation;
*Placing the senior’s number on the do-not-call registry (donotcall.gov);
*Issuing a trusted friend or relative the power of attorney;
*Never giving out any personal banking or credit card info to anyone who seems suspect.
Moreover, if a financial, medical or insurance offer requires a quick decision, refrain from acting in haste. For her part, Moser expounds on this line of thought.
“If something like this happens, just take 30 minutes and calm down. Take 30 minutes and go to the sheriff’s office and talk about what happened,” she says.
SOURCE: The LoudounTimes
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Hundreds of Local Seniors Attend 'Scam Jam' to Join Fight Against Fraud
Hundreds of local seniors attended ‘Scam Jam’ at the Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien on Monday (Sept. 17), an event aimed at helping people fight scams and fraud.
Consumers lose billions of dollars every year to various kinds of consumer fraud. According to a study conducted by AARP, people over 50 years of age are especially vulnerable and account for more than half of all victims.
A packed room of nearly 400 local seniors turned out to learn how they could spot and stop consumer fraud.
“Whether it’s bogus investment deals, the Grandparent Scam, or the newest ID Theft ploy – sophisticated con-artists are busy at work coming up with new ways to get you to hand over your hard-earned money,” says AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center Director Jean Mathisen. “It’s important to keep up to date on the latest scams and schemes to help protect you and the people you care about.”
Scam Jam attendees heard from more than a dozen organizations including the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General’s Office, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Federal Trade Commission, Senior Medicare Patrol, Adult Protective Services and others.
U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkin presented a section on “Skimming and Internet Fraud.” Ms. Durkin warned the crowd of the growing instances of “skimming” aimed at stealing bank card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting consumers. Scammers often get the information by installing scanners and small cameras on ATM machines. She urged consumers to take a few simple steps to avoid getting snared including:
1. Wiggle the card reader: This is often where scammers will install devices to read your card and capture your information.
2. Look for suspicious holes: Scammers may install small cameras that peer through pinholes in the ATM machine.
3. Cover the keypad: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Also look around and make sure no one is watching over your shoulder or standing above or around you where they can see what your PIN is.
4. Check your accounts: Check your accounts on a regular basis to make sure no one has made charges on your account or withdrawn your funds.
Mark Couey from the special investigations unit at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner talked to the group about insurance scams. According to Couey, 10% of all insurance clams may be fraudulent costing nearly $1.67 billion per year or $625 for every household in Washington State.
Couey warned attendees to be on the lookout for fake insurance companies out to defraud consumers by collecting premiums for bogus policies with no intention of paying claims. These so-called companies might offer policies at costs that are significantly lower than competitors’ prices or they might be difficult to reach by phone — if there’s a listed phone number at all. He urged consumers to check out insurance agents and companies before doing business by using the OIC’s online lookup tool at www.insurance.wa.gov.
Attendees also learned how to spot and stop Medicare fraud during a presentation by Roya Rezai, Branch Chief for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Rezai warned the crowd that if anyone contacts you and claims to be from Medicare or the Social Security Administration and they ask you to share your Medicare number – it’s a scam. Medicare already has your number and anyone who asks for it may be targeting you for Identity Theft.
Rezai also urged the group to review their Explanation of Benefits form from Medicare for charges on any services they did not receive. She counseled them to call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program with any concerns or questions at 1-800-562-6900. SHIBA is a program of the State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
In all, more than 16 separate agencies and organizations participated in Scam Jam. AARP has posted a full list of the organizations and contact information on their website. If consumers have any questions about scams and schemes, they can contact the AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center toll-free at 1-800-646-2283 or visit www.aarp.org/wa.
SOURCE: The b-TownBlog
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Consumers lose billions of dollars every year to various kinds of consumer fraud. According to a study conducted by AARP, people over 50 years of age are especially vulnerable and account for more than half of all victims.
A packed room of nearly 400 local seniors turned out to learn how they could spot and stop consumer fraud.
“Whether it’s bogus investment deals, the Grandparent Scam, or the newest ID Theft ploy – sophisticated con-artists are busy at work coming up with new ways to get you to hand over your hard-earned money,” says AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center Director Jean Mathisen. “It’s important to keep up to date on the latest scams and schemes to help protect you and the people you care about.”
Scam Jam attendees heard from more than a dozen organizations including the Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General’s Office, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Federal Trade Commission, Senior Medicare Patrol, Adult Protective Services and others.
U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkin presented a section on “Skimming and Internet Fraud.” Ms. Durkin warned the crowd of the growing instances of “skimming” aimed at stealing bank card numbers and PINs from unsuspecting consumers. Scammers often get the information by installing scanners and small cameras on ATM machines. She urged consumers to take a few simple steps to avoid getting snared including:
1. Wiggle the card reader: This is often where scammers will install devices to read your card and capture your information.
2. Look for suspicious holes: Scammers may install small cameras that peer through pinholes in the ATM machine.
3. Cover the keypad: Cover the keypad when entering your PIN. Also look around and make sure no one is watching over your shoulder or standing above or around you where they can see what your PIN is.
4. Check your accounts: Check your accounts on a regular basis to make sure no one has made charges on your account or withdrawn your funds.
Mark Couey from the special investigations unit at the Office of the Insurance Commissioner talked to the group about insurance scams. According to Couey, 10% of all insurance clams may be fraudulent costing nearly $1.67 billion per year or $625 for every household in Washington State.
Couey warned attendees to be on the lookout for fake insurance companies out to defraud consumers by collecting premiums for bogus policies with no intention of paying claims. These so-called companies might offer policies at costs that are significantly lower than competitors’ prices or they might be difficult to reach by phone — if there’s a listed phone number at all. He urged consumers to check out insurance agents and companies before doing business by using the OIC’s online lookup tool at www.insurance.wa.gov.
Attendees also learned how to spot and stop Medicare fraud during a presentation by Roya Rezai, Branch Chief for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Rezai warned the crowd that if anyone contacts you and claims to be from Medicare or the Social Security Administration and they ask you to share your Medicare number – it’s a scam. Medicare already has your number and anyone who asks for it may be targeting you for Identity Theft.
Rezai also urged the group to review their Explanation of Benefits form from Medicare for charges on any services they did not receive. She counseled them to call the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program with any concerns or questions at 1-800-562-6900. SHIBA is a program of the State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.
In all, more than 16 separate agencies and organizations participated in Scam Jam. AARP has posted a full list of the organizations and contact information on their website. If consumers have any questions about scams and schemes, they can contact the AARP Fraud Fighter Call Center toll-free at 1-800-646-2283 or visit www.aarp.org/wa.
SOURCE: The b-TownBlog
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September 13, 2012
The $90,000 Lesson: Protecting Elders from Finanacial Abuse
September 12, 2012
PHOENIX
The son of a woman bilked out of $90,000 has advice for other grown children concerned about their aging parents: Get involved sooner rather than later.
At his mother's house in Oregon, John Fread noticed a credit card statement with a balance of $20,000. Scammers had charged almost five times that much on several accounts. They started as phone solicitors and eventually sent people to her home to lift financial information.
Fread says the ordeal took a terrible toll - not only on his mother's finances, but on her health.
"We are having to really offer emotional support that we never expected. My mom - you know, tough old girl - is now very vulnerable, and her confidence is gone. These people really robbed what should have been the last great part of her life; they took that away from her."
Fread advises grown children to get to know their parents' neighbors, and check out any new people or caregivers in their lives. Glance at their incoming mail and caller ID for hints of scams and solicitations. Don't worry about seeming 'nosy', he says - he wishes he had been.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office says reports of elder abuse in the state are up 150 percent in the past decade, with financial exploitation and fraud the most common forms of abuse.
Fread says collection agencies still are hounding his family about the credit card debt, even though they've been informed of the scam. He hopes other families can avoid these problems by having conversations that may be uncomfortable - but necessary.
"Y'know, 'Mom, Dad, things are a little different in your generation than my generation. Here are some things that we need to talk about because I've seen it happening - it's in the news,' for example. It's so much easier to sit down and have the tough conversation proactively than try to scramble and reactively try to fix something."
The Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix estimates only about one case in 14 is ever reported.
A report from MetLife Insurance Co. estimates the loss by victims of elder financial abuse at $2.9 billion a year. Its research is online at metlife.com.
Doug Ramsey, Public News Service - AZ
SOURCE: PublicNewsService
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PHOENIX
The son of a woman bilked out of $90,000 has advice for other grown children concerned about their aging parents: Get involved sooner rather than later.
At his mother's house in Oregon, John Fread noticed a credit card statement with a balance of $20,000. Scammers had charged almost five times that much on several accounts. They started as phone solicitors and eventually sent people to her home to lift financial information.
Fread says the ordeal took a terrible toll - not only on his mother's finances, but on her health.
"We are having to really offer emotional support that we never expected. My mom - you know, tough old girl - is now very vulnerable, and her confidence is gone. These people really robbed what should have been the last great part of her life; they took that away from her."
Fread advises grown children to get to know their parents' neighbors, and check out any new people or caregivers in their lives. Glance at their incoming mail and caller ID for hints of scams and solicitations. Don't worry about seeming 'nosy', he says - he wishes he had been.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office says reports of elder abuse in the state are up 150 percent in the past decade, with financial exploitation and fraud the most common forms of abuse.
Fread says collection agencies still are hounding his family about the credit card debt, even though they've been informed of the scam. He hopes other families can avoid these problems by having conversations that may be uncomfortable - but necessary.
"Y'know, 'Mom, Dad, things are a little different in your generation than my generation. Here are some things that we need to talk about because I've seen it happening - it's in the news,' for example. It's so much easier to sit down and have the tough conversation proactively than try to scramble and reactively try to fix something."
The Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix estimates only about one case in 14 is ever reported.
A report from MetLife Insurance Co. estimates the loss by victims of elder financial abuse at $2.9 billion a year. Its research is online at metlife.com.
Doug Ramsey, Public News Service - AZ
SOURCE: PublicNewsService
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Elder Abuse Calls Prompts New Role (NEW ZEALAND)
IAN ALLEN
A deluge of calls relating to elder abuse will see Age Concern Marlborough taking on an extra staff member to deal with the problem.
The group has received a grant from the Social Development Ministry's Family and Community Services department to employ the specialised worker after receiving more than 100 calls relating to elder abuse in Marlborough last year.
Community support worker Helen North said Age Concern Marlborough did not have an exact figure for calls between June 2011 and July 2012 because there was no-one working solely on elder abuse. Staff started taking note of elder abuse calls in June last year after noticing a surge in complaints, she said.
The elder abuse and neglect prevention co-ordinator starts in Marlborough at the beginning of next month, bringing the Age Concern team to three, alongside the community support worker and support services worker.
The new staff member would provide support to older people and work alongside inter-agency group the Marlborough Violence Intervention Project Committee, which includes other anti-abuse groups such as Women's Refuge. The committee was intending to organise elder abuse seminars and events to highlight the growing problem.
Ms North said elder abuse often went unreported because it involved family members and victims felt ashamed and embarrassed.
"After making initial contact, they often don't want to take it any further," she said.
"It's like the elephant in the room, nobody wants to talk about it."
Elder abuse wasn't just physical, but could involve taking financial advantage of an older person, not listening and over-riding their choices, threats of abandonment and taking over their property, she said.
Those responsible were not always aware that they were guilty of abuse.
Age Concern Marlborough chairwoman Jane Laing said she welcomed the ministry grant to provide a specialist to counter abuse of the elderly.
"Our statistics show us that there is a need for an elder abuse co-ordinator in our community and these funds will help us extend our services to accommodate this need."
SOURCE: Stuff.co.nz
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A deluge of calls relating to elder abuse will see Age Concern Marlborough taking on an extra staff member to deal with the problem.
The group has received a grant from the Social Development Ministry's Family and Community Services department to employ the specialised worker after receiving more than 100 calls relating to elder abuse in Marlborough last year.
Community support worker Helen North said Age Concern Marlborough did not have an exact figure for calls between June 2011 and July 2012 because there was no-one working solely on elder abuse. Staff started taking note of elder abuse calls in June last year after noticing a surge in complaints, she said.
The elder abuse and neglect prevention co-ordinator starts in Marlborough at the beginning of next month, bringing the Age Concern team to three, alongside the community support worker and support services worker.
The new staff member would provide support to older people and work alongside inter-agency group the Marlborough Violence Intervention Project Committee, which includes other anti-abuse groups such as Women's Refuge. The committee was intending to organise elder abuse seminars and events to highlight the growing problem.
Ms North said elder abuse often went unreported because it involved family members and victims felt ashamed and embarrassed.
"After making initial contact, they often don't want to take it any further," she said.
"It's like the elephant in the room, nobody wants to talk about it."
Elder abuse wasn't just physical, but could involve taking financial advantage of an older person, not listening and over-riding their choices, threats of abandonment and taking over their property, she said.
Those responsible were not always aware that they were guilty of abuse.
Age Concern Marlborough chairwoman Jane Laing said she welcomed the ministry grant to provide a specialist to counter abuse of the elderly.
"Our statistics show us that there is a need for an elder abuse co-ordinator in our community and these funds will help us extend our services to accommodate this need."
SOURCE: Stuff.co.nz
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Seniors, Caregivers, Service Providers Get Tips on Preventing Elder Abuse
Sept. 12, 2012
By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff
BANGOR, Maine
\One in every nine people over the age of 60 is the victim of some form of elder abuse, including financial exploitation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In Maine, that translates to 33,000 seniors, according to some of the experts who participated in “Outsmarting Financial Fraud and Elder Abuse,” a free educational seminar on elder financial fraud and abuse held Tuesday at Spectacular Event Center.
The event, provided at no cost to participants, was one of five being held around Maine this week, organizers said Tuesday.
Based on national statistics, it’s estimated that nearly 5,000 elders in Maine are victims of financial abuse each year, says Jessica Maurer, executive director of the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging and chairwoman of the newly formed Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention.
The numbers also show that more often than not — in as many as 90 percent of all cases — the abuser is someone close to the elderly victim, such as a son, daughter or other family member or caregiver, adds Martha Perkins, regional manager of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Aging and Disabilities Services. That is why many cases go unreported, she said.
While underreported, the financial loss suffered by victims of elder financial abuse nationally is believed to total at least $2.6 billion annually, according to the Department of Justice.
“For too long we have ignored this as an issue,” Perkins said. “We are losing our elderly to an epidemic rarely talked about.”
As the Maine Office of Securities noted in a recent news release, the escalation of elder financial abuse in Maine and the nation makes it one of the fastest growing crimes of the 21st century.
That is why the state’s office of securities, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Legal Services for the Elderly, Rape Response Services and others teamed up to offer senior citizens around Maine — and those who care for or provide services to them — tips on how to avoid being a victim of financial and other forms of abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional.
The point of the session was to give seniors and those who care about them some “red flags” to watch for, some practical tips for prevention fraud and other forms of abuse, what to know when attempting to intervene, and resources for getting help, including legal advice.
According to Susan Arthur, an investor education trainer for FINRA who spoke in Bangor, some of the top persuasion tactics used by scammers — which should be considered red flags are:
• “Phantom riches,” or assets and products that do not exist. (Such as Ponzi schemes.)
• Source credibility, or the use of credentials, licenses and certifications that may not exist. “The bottom line here with all of that is that can be faked,” Arthur said.
• Social consensus, or group pressure, which Arthur described as the “Everybody else is doing this; it must be good” line of thinking. Even churches have been caught up in those cases, she said.
• Reciprocity. It’s typical for someone in their golden years to want to give when someone gives to them, Arthur said, noting that many offer to bring wine or a dish when invited to dinner. But a free lunch or vacation shouldn’t lead to a $100,000 investment, she said. “Just make sure it’s an equitable exchange,” she said.
• Scarcity, or “If something is rare or scarce, it must be valuable.” Television infomercials and shopping channels have this tactic down pat, she said. “It’s a very effective and powerful tactic and it’s often used at the very end of a sales pitch,” she said.
Her key words of advice? “Ask and check.”
For information about elder financial abuse, call the state’s office of securities at 877-624-8551 and the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging at 877-353-3771.
In addition, FINRA’s website, SaveAndInvest.org, offers a wealth of information and tips aimed at helping seniors and others avoid becoming fraud victims.
SOURCE: The BangorDailyNews
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By Dawn Gagnon, BDN Staff
BANGOR, Maine
\One in every nine people over the age of 60 is the victim of some form of elder abuse, including financial exploitation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
In Maine, that translates to 33,000 seniors, according to some of the experts who participated in “Outsmarting Financial Fraud and Elder Abuse,” a free educational seminar on elder financial fraud and abuse held Tuesday at Spectacular Event Center.
The event, provided at no cost to participants, was one of five being held around Maine this week, organizers said Tuesday.
Based on national statistics, it’s estimated that nearly 5,000 elders in Maine are victims of financial abuse each year, says Jessica Maurer, executive director of the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging and chairwoman of the newly formed Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention.
The numbers also show that more often than not — in as many as 90 percent of all cases — the abuser is someone close to the elderly victim, such as a son, daughter or other family member or caregiver, adds Martha Perkins, regional manager of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Aging and Disabilities Services. That is why many cases go unreported, she said.
While underreported, the financial loss suffered by victims of elder financial abuse nationally is believed to total at least $2.6 billion annually, according to the Department of Justice.
“For too long we have ignored this as an issue,” Perkins said. “We are losing our elderly to an epidemic rarely talked about.”
As the Maine Office of Securities noted in a recent news release, the escalation of elder financial abuse in Maine and the nation makes it one of the fastest growing crimes of the 21st century.
That is why the state’s office of securities, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Legal Services for the Elderly, Rape Response Services and others teamed up to offer senior citizens around Maine — and those who care for or provide services to them — tips on how to avoid being a victim of financial and other forms of abuse, including physical, sexual and emotional.
The point of the session was to give seniors and those who care about them some “red flags” to watch for, some practical tips for prevention fraud and other forms of abuse, what to know when attempting to intervene, and resources for getting help, including legal advice.
According to Susan Arthur, an investor education trainer for FINRA who spoke in Bangor, some of the top persuasion tactics used by scammers — which should be considered red flags are:
• “Phantom riches,” or assets and products that do not exist. (Such as Ponzi schemes.)
• Source credibility, or the use of credentials, licenses and certifications that may not exist. “The bottom line here with all of that is that can be faked,” Arthur said.
• Social consensus, or group pressure, which Arthur described as the “Everybody else is doing this; it must be good” line of thinking. Even churches have been caught up in those cases, she said.
• Reciprocity. It’s typical for someone in their golden years to want to give when someone gives to them, Arthur said, noting that many offer to bring wine or a dish when invited to dinner. But a free lunch or vacation shouldn’t lead to a $100,000 investment, she said. “Just make sure it’s an equitable exchange,” she said.
• Scarcity, or “If something is rare or scarce, it must be valuable.” Television infomercials and shopping channels have this tactic down pat, she said. “It’s a very effective and powerful tactic and it’s often used at the very end of a sales pitch,” she said.
Her key words of advice? “Ask and check.”
For information about elder financial abuse, call the state’s office of securities at 877-624-8551 and the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging at 877-353-3771.
In addition, FINRA’s website, SaveAndInvest.org, offers a wealth of information and tips aimed at helping seniors and others avoid becoming fraud victims.
SOURCE: The BangorDailyNews
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September 11, 2012
Elder Abuse Case Sheds Light on Growing Problem
Sep 08, 2012
A case of elder abuse in the city of Staunton led to a 10-year prison term for a full-time caregiver on Thursday.
Jeannette Hymes, 50, was the sole caregiver for the victim, 85-year-old Russell Beach. Soon after Beach died in May 2010, an autopsy showed he was emaciated, and had suffered multiple injuries.
In addition to the death of Beach, are multiple allegations of sexual abuse at a Staunton nursing home. They're among thousands of cases that adult protective services look into each year. Many begin with a family member, friend or neighbor who steps up and speaks up.
Thursday was a rare conviction under the criminal code "abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult."
"They're hard cases to prove, because as the defense attorney said, old people die, old people fall, old people don't eat, old people don't go to the doctor when they should. And you've got to overcome all those things," said Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Robertson.
Prosecutors did overcome that in the case of victim Russell Beach. His out-of-state family members said they never thought it could happen.
Lynn Harris with the Staunton Senior Center said, "If you have any suspicions at all, doesn't have to be founded... You don't have to do any research. You don't have to do anything except make a phone call to Adult Protective Services."
That agency is getting more calls, nearly 9,000 substantiated reports in Virginia last year. APS says financial exploitation has exploded since the start of the recession.
Nicole Medina with APS said, "There are a lot of people moving back in to their homes with their elderly or disabled relatives. And then you see folks utilizing those people's social security checks for their own needs, rather than taking care of their loved ones."
Senior advocates say there are still far more cases of elder abuse that go unreported.
Harris said, "Let's stop concentrating on whether or not someone's going to get in trouble. Let's concentrate on whether we're going to help somebody who really needs that help."
SOURCE:
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A case of elder abuse in the city of Staunton led to a 10-year prison term for a full-time caregiver on Thursday.
Jeannette Hymes, 50, was the sole caregiver for the victim, 85-year-old Russell Beach. Soon after Beach died in May 2010, an autopsy showed he was emaciated, and had suffered multiple injuries.
In addition to the death of Beach, are multiple allegations of sexual abuse at a Staunton nursing home. They're among thousands of cases that adult protective services look into each year. Many begin with a family member, friend or neighbor who steps up and speaks up.
Thursday was a rare conviction under the criminal code "abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult."
"They're hard cases to prove, because as the defense attorney said, old people die, old people fall, old people don't eat, old people don't go to the doctor when they should. And you've got to overcome all those things," said Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Robertson.
Prosecutors did overcome that in the case of victim Russell Beach. His out-of-state family members said they never thought it could happen.
Lynn Harris with the Staunton Senior Center said, "If you have any suspicions at all, doesn't have to be founded... You don't have to do any research. You don't have to do anything except make a phone call to Adult Protective Services."
That agency is getting more calls, nearly 9,000 substantiated reports in Virginia last year. APS says financial exploitation has exploded since the start of the recession.
Nicole Medina with APS said, "There are a lot of people moving back in to their homes with their elderly or disabled relatives. And then you see folks utilizing those people's social security checks for their own needs, rather than taking care of their loved ones."
Senior advocates say there are still far more cases of elder abuse that go unreported.
Harris said, "Let's stop concentrating on whether or not someone's going to get in trouble. Let's concentrate on whether we're going to help somebody who really needs that help."
SOURCE:
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Reverse Mortgage $$ Targeted in 2 Alleged Cases of Elderly Financial Abuse (HAWAII)
BY JIM DOOLEY
September 7th, 2012
Law enforcement agencies here are investigating two men for alleged financial abuse of elderly women, Hawaii Reporter has learned.
One case involves businessman Daniel Doi, the target of several legal complaints filed in the past two years by state regulators and the Attorney General’s office.
“We’re going to request that the Circuit Court issues a permanent injunction against Mr. Doi,” Deputy Attorney General C. Brian Fitzgerald said today.
The action comes after a Washington D.C. resident, Elizabeth Pierotti, complained to state officials and Honolulu police about Doi’s attempts to sell financial services to Pierotti’s 85-year-old aunt in Hawaii.
“When my aunt told me the story of what Mr. Doi was doing, I immediately Googled his name and up popped a 2010 story in Hawaii Reporter about him,” Pierotti said.
The story concerned a legal complaint filed against Doi by the Attorney General’s office, alleging that he was engaged in the unauthorized sales of legal service plans and that his sales activities “deceived elderly consumers.”
Pierotti said she called contact numbers contained in the story and spoke with officials in the Attorney General’s office and the state Insurance Division.
Doi did not respond to a request for comment left today on his cell phone.
Pierotti said her aunt told her Doi visited her home “several times” and offered to sell her products involving “Medicaid eligibility” and “asset protections trusts,” eventually convincing her to pay him $15,000 “for what he said were legal fees.”
“She wrote him a check, he cashed it and then he wanted her to take money out of her reverse mortgage account and put it in a different account,” Pierotti said.
“My aunt called the mortgage company to withdraw the funds, but they questioned her about the withdrawal and said it didn’t sound right,” Pierotti continued.
“My aunt called me and that’s when I researched Mr. Doi. I called him and said I wanted him to refund the money to my aunt because I was going to contact the authorities about what he was doing,” she said.
“He did refund the money, which had been paid to a company called Kupuna Group, Inc.,” she said.
A letter accompanying the refund check said Pierotti’s aunt, by accepting the refund, agreed “not to pursue any legal action or complaint” against Kupuna Group or its officers or agents.
“I think what he is doing is outrageous. The elderly are easy prey and are reluctant to come forward when they’ve been victimized,” Pierotti sazid.
Abridged
SOURCE: The HawaiiReporter
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September 7th, 2012
Law enforcement agencies here are investigating two men for alleged financial abuse of elderly women, Hawaii Reporter has learned.
One case involves businessman Daniel Doi, the target of several legal complaints filed in the past two years by state regulators and the Attorney General’s office.
“We’re going to request that the Circuit Court issues a permanent injunction against Mr. Doi,” Deputy Attorney General C. Brian Fitzgerald said today.
The action comes after a Washington D.C. resident, Elizabeth Pierotti, complained to state officials and Honolulu police about Doi’s attempts to sell financial services to Pierotti’s 85-year-old aunt in Hawaii.
“When my aunt told me the story of what Mr. Doi was doing, I immediately Googled his name and up popped a 2010 story in Hawaii Reporter about him,” Pierotti said.
The story concerned a legal complaint filed against Doi by the Attorney General’s office, alleging that he was engaged in the unauthorized sales of legal service plans and that his sales activities “deceived elderly consumers.”
Pierotti said she called contact numbers contained in the story and spoke with officials in the Attorney General’s office and the state Insurance Division.
Doi did not respond to a request for comment left today on his cell phone.
Pierotti said her aunt told her Doi visited her home “several times” and offered to sell her products involving “Medicaid eligibility” and “asset protections trusts,” eventually convincing her to pay him $15,000 “for what he said were legal fees.”
“She wrote him a check, he cashed it and then he wanted her to take money out of her reverse mortgage account and put it in a different account,” Pierotti said.
“My aunt called the mortgage company to withdraw the funds, but they questioned her about the withdrawal and said it didn’t sound right,” Pierotti continued.
“My aunt called me and that’s when I researched Mr. Doi. I called him and said I wanted him to refund the money to my aunt because I was going to contact the authorities about what he was doing,” she said.
“He did refund the money, which had been paid to a company called Kupuna Group, Inc.,” she said.
A letter accompanying the refund check said Pierotti’s aunt, by accepting the refund, agreed “not to pursue any legal action or complaint” against Kupuna Group or its officers or agents.
“I think what he is doing is outrageous. The elderly are easy prey and are reluctant to come forward when they’ve been victimized,” Pierotti sazid.
Abridged
SOURCE: The HawaiiReporter
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