· WHAT:
o Help prevent the financial exploitation and abuse of seniors in Hamilton County
o Provide resources to law enforcement, banks, community members to aid in prosecutions when a crime against the elderly does occur
o Represent HCJFS – Adult Protective Services to protect seniors and help seniors and families navigate the probate court process
· WHY:
o National Council on Aging stats: nearly 5million seniors are abused each year
o A growing senior population and increased reliance on technology create a situation where scams are prevalent – and bad guys are taking advantage
· HOW:
o Education –
§ We will be out in the community offering education to seniors and their families to help prevent them from falling victim to scams
o 946-SCAM
§ Helpline resource for people to contact if they have been scammed, are receiving calls they believe might be scammed, or if they think they or their family members may be a victim
§ This will help us get real-time information about scams that are going around our community
o These scams are constantly changing and regularly come from out of the country – or are difficult to track
§ So education and prevention are key
o When we can identify a perpetrator, we will have prosecutors on-hand who specifically know what to look for and how best to prosecute these cases
· *If you see something that is suspicious, or feel like a senior in your life is vulnerable to something like this – CALL