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Rosca Scarlato LLC, a senior investor advocacy law firm, released an educational guide titled "Recognizing and Preventing Elder Financial Abuse" to address the growing problem of financial exploitation targeting elderly Americans, particularly Baby Boomers in retirement. The guide identifies vulnerabilities that make seniors susceptible to fraud—including substantial savings, cognitive decline, and limited investment knowledge—and provides actionable advice for seniors, caregivers, professionals, and local governments to identify red flags and implement protective safeguards.

This educational column outlines four prevalent scams targeting seniors: elder financial abuse (where trusted individuals gain unauthorized access to finances), romance scams (where online/phone relationships lead to requests for money), tech support scams (fraudulent calls claiming computer or banking problems), and bereavement scams (scammers targeting grieving family members by posing as funeral homes). The article estimates that over 10% of U.S. elderly are victimized annually and recommends protective measures including adding trusted contacts to financial accounts, establishing estate plans, verifying unexpected calls by contacting organizations directly, and reporting fraud to law enforcement.

Puerto Rico's Cossec (Cooperatives Supervision & Insurance Corp.) launched financial education initiatives to help elderly residents recognize and avoid financial exploitation, emphasizing preventive measures such as protecting personal information, monitoring account activity, and contacting credit unions directly about suspicious transactions. The organization highlighted that credit unions have protocols in place to assist vulnerable elderly populations and stressed the importance of institutions complying with Puerto Rico's 2010 regulation (amended in 2022) requiring detection and prevention procedures for elder financial abuse. Exploitation cases involving elderly adults—perpetrated by family members, caregivers, financial advisers, or scammers—can result in significant financial losses and are addressed through institution notification requirements and law enforcement

A 96-year-old California woman, Violet Evelyn Alberts, was murdered in May 2022 as part of a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Pauline Macareno, who had befriended the vulnerable widow and exploited her through financial fraud, forged documents, and a fraudulent reverse mortgage scheme to gain control of her property. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the case, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for elder abuse and fraud, while three others face murder and conspiracy charges; authorities determined the motive was to accelerate Alberts' death to fraudulently obtain her estate. Alberts was found dead from

In May 2022, 96-year-old Violet Alberts was found dead in her Montecito, California home and ruled a homicide by asphyxiation; authorities later determined her death was part of a murder-for-hire plot following financial fraud and elder abuse. Pauline Macareno was sentenced to six years in prison for forging documents and establishing fraudulent entities to gain control of Alberts' assets, while Henry Rostomyan and Ricardo Martin Del Campo were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the scheme.

Violet Evelyn Alberts, a 96-year-old California widow, was murdered in May 2022 in a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated as part of a larger financial exploitation scheme. Pauline Macareno, who befriended the vulnerable elderly woman, engaged in elder abuse and fraud by forging documents to fraudulently acquire Alberts' property through a reverse mortgage scheme, then arranged her death to accelerate gaining control of her estate. Four suspects have been arrested and charged, with Macareno sentenced to six years in prison for fraud and the other three charged with murder and conspiracy to murder.

The U.S. population of adults age 60 and older grew 33% from 2010 to 2020, yet research on fraud victimization in this demographic remains limited despite older adults losing over $36 billion annually to financial fraud. Older adults face heightened vulnerability to fraud due to cognitive decline, reduced financial literacy, social isolation, and greater trustfulness, with 34.8% of those age 50+ targeted by scams in a five-year period and 2.7-6.6% experiencing fraud annually, though actual numbers are likely higher due to significant underreporting.

AARP is endorsing the Guardianship Grant Flexibility Act, which would help states fund legal representation programs for over 1.3 million adults living under court-ordered guardianship who cannot afford attorneys. Many guardianship arrangements have involved abuse, mismanagement, and conflicts of interest, leaving vulnerable individuals without adequate legal advocacy to protect their rights regarding finances, living arrangements, medical decisions, and voting.

A 72-year-old Hialeah man was charged with exploiting his 95-year-old mother by gaining unauthorized access to her bank account and withdrawing approximately $57,000 between March and August 2024, leaving her facing eviction. The victim, a mentally sharp widow who had previously managed her finances independently, was persuaded by her son to grant him account access under the pretense of helping her. Diaz was charged with exploitation of an elderly person, grand theft, organized fraud, and misuse of a communication device, while authorities secured emergency housing for the victim.

The city of Goleta partnered with the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office and the Greater Goleta Santa Barbara Lions Club to hold a community scam-prevention presentation called "Name that Tune, Stop that Scam!" on April 15. The program educated seniors and caregivers about current local and nationwide scams, protection strategies, and victim resources, addressing the fact that one in five seniors becomes a victim of abuse or fraud, with nearly 90% of elder abuse cases involving family members.

Helen Grace Caldwell, a 59-year-old former Citibank wealth adviser in Chicago, was sentenced to 2½ years in prison for defrauding three elderly clients of nearly $1.5 million through a scheme in which she convinced them to invest their life savings in her film production company, Canal Productions, then diverted the funds to personal expenses. Caldwell, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, told victims their money would fund movie productions and generate profits, but instead transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to her personal accounts to pay for home renovations, car repairs, and other personal purchases. The judge rejected her plea for probation, stating that probation would be "

FinCen's analysis of elder financial exploitation found that approximately 80% of reported cases involve scams (fraudulent transfers to strangers) while 20% involve theft by trusted individuals, with account takeover being the most common exploitation method. Warning signs include sudden changes in banking practices, unexplained large withdrawals, and abrupt changes to wills or financial documents, with approximately 10% of people aged 65 and older experiencing some form of elder abuse annually. Financial institutions play a critical role in identifying and preventing elder financial exploitation through compliance reporting and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, while research indicates that susceptibility to scams correlates with lower income, reduced cognitive function, and limited financial literacy.

Lawrence Montgomery, Jr. pleaded guilty to exploiting his 77-year-old mother, Ruth Montgomery, who had Alzheimer's disease, by diverting her social security checks to himself over five months (October 2019–February 2020) while she was in a nursing home, putting her at risk of discharge. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation, ordered to pay restitution, and barred from serving as a guardian or power of attorney. Georgia's Attorney General emphasized that protecting seniors from family-member exploitation remains a priority and noted that the state's Medicaid Fraud Division has secured 90 convictions for elder abuse and fraud since 2019.

Regina Thomas and her son Isaiah allegedly ran a wire fraud scheme targeting seniors in Houston, stealing over $1 million from an elderly couple by impersonating a nurse and lawyer, respectively, and fabricating stories about FEMA fraud and legal troubles. Regina Thomas is currently a fugitive, prompting the FBI Houston office to offer a $10,000 reward—marking the first time they've offered a reward in an elder fraud case—while Isaiah faces federal wire fraud charges and is out on bond. Investigators believe there may be additional victims and are actively seeking Regina Thomas, also known as Nikki Laday.

An elderly Birmingham, Alabama woman with medical needs was defrauded of over $200,000 by five individuals employed to care for her, including two live-in caretakers, a house cleaner, and a hairdresser, who were charged with wire fraud and identity theft between December 2020 and February 2022. The perpetrators used the victim's credit card information and banking services to make unauthorized purchases and transfers, with the hairdresser alone charging over $130,000 to her Square account. The case reflects a broader trend of elder financial exploitation in the U.S., with the Treasury reporting approximately $27 billion in suspicious elder fraud activity in a single year.

**Summary:** The Better Business Bureau has issued a public alert about a bail impersonation scam targeting senior citizens in which fraudsters pose as grandchildren or other relatives in legal distress and request urgent bail money via untraceable digital payment platforms like CashApp or WhatsApp. Seniors should be alert to warning signs including unsolicited calls requesting money, urgent payment demands, and pressure to act quickly; those targeted can report incidents to the BBB at 956-969-1804 or bbb.org/scamtracker.

Senior citizens lost over $3.4 billion to elder fraud in 2023, with financial abuse frequently perpetrated by family members and caregivers. Forensic accountants play a critical role in investigating these cases by analyzing financial records and transaction patterns to identify where stolen funds went, and their expert testimony carries significant weight in legal proceedings. Beyond direct theft, elder financial abuse can involve exploitation through guardianships, conservatorships, and resource depletion, with documented cases ranging from over $1 million stolen by caregivers to severe neglect and coercion affecting victims' health and living conditions.

A 93-year-old woman with mild dementia became a victim of financial abuse by her youngest daughter, Joan, who siphoned an estimated $230,000 from her mother's savings, manipulated her into signing a new will naming Joan as sole heir and power of attorney, and subsequently sold the mother's condo for $400,000—leaving the three other daughters powerless to stop the exploitation while a police investigation could take up to two years. The article contextualizes this case within the broader problem of elder financial abuse, which the National Council on Aging estimates costs seniors approximately $36.5 billion annually, particularly affecting vulnerable populations including those with cognitive decline and Black seniors (

Two Los Angeles retirees, both in their late 70s/early 80s, lost approximately $79,500 and $75,000 respectively to tech support and cryptocurrency scams in early 2024. Neal was duped into allowing remote computer access after a fake software subscription email, while Mrs. K. was tricked by a pop-up virus alert into withdrawing cash and depositing it into bitcoin machines at multiple locations. The article notes that elder fraud is widespread and sophisticated, with the FBI reporting that victims over 60 lost $3.1 billion in 2022, and recommends disconnecting from the internet when encountering suspicious pop-ups and being cautious of uns

A Mount Zion woman was charged with stealing over $100,000 in cash and property from an elderly female victim between May 2022 and July 2023. Ali L. Fisher, 31, faces two counts including financial exploitation of an elderly person and obtaining control of property through deception, with the alleged theft totaling more than $40,000 in additional cash. Fisher was arrested on May 14 and released on pretrial release pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 24 in Macon County Circuit Court.

**World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) highlights a critical public health issue affecting approximately five million older adults annually in the United States, with financial fraud being the most prevalent form, causing victims an estimated $30 billion in losses per year.** The article emphasizes that elder abuse—which includes physical, emotional, neglect, and financial mistreatment—requires community-wide prevention through awareness training, technology safeguards (bank alerts, secure document storage), and strong social networks. Older adults are advised to be cautious of unsolicited contact requesting personal information or urgent payment via unusual methods, and reporting mechanisms are available through multiple agencies with anonymity protections.

During World Elder Abuse Month, New York's Department of State highlighted the growing crisis of elder fraud, noting that adults over 60 lost over $3.4 billion in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. State officials urged New Yorkers to educate themselves and older family members about common scam tactics, warning that scammers use increasingly sophisticated methods to steal money and personal information, and emphasized the importance of reporting suspected abuse to adult protective services.

The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud awareness, reporting that scams targeting adults over 60 caused $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 (an 11% increase from 2022), with average victim losses of $33,915. The advisory outlined common scams affecting older adults including medical device scams, grandparent scams, identity theft targeting deceased persons, jury duty scams, and sweepstakes scams, while recommending protective measures such as avoiding unsolicited calls, not clicking unknown links, and verifying requests through trusted phone numbers.

New York's Department of State Division of Consumer Protection released guidance on scams targeting older adults, noting that elder fraud caused over $3.4 billion in losses nationally in 2023, with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory outlines common scams including medical device, grandparent, jury duty, funeral notification, and IRS imposter schemes, and recommends that seniors hang up on unrecognizable numbers, avoid unsolicited links, and verify requests through trusted phone numbers. Officials emphasized that elder abuse is widely underreported and urged anyone suspecting abuse to contact the New York State Adult Services Helpline at 1-844-697-3505.

**Title:** New York Department of State Warns of Elder Fraud Epidemic The New York Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection issued guidance on elder fraud following the FBI's 2023 report showing that scams targeting adults over 60 resulted in $3.4 billion in losses (an 11% increase from 2022), with the average victim losing $33,915. The advisory describes eight common scams affecting older adults—including medical device, grandparent, ghosting, jury duty, funeral notification, sweepstakes, IRS imposter, and free grant scams—and provides prevention tips such as resisting immediate action, verifying caller identity, an

Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella forged approximately 70 checks, impersonated her mother to banks, intercepted statements, and also stole jewelry and misused her deceased father's credit cards to fund personal expenses including travel, cosmetic procedures, and shopping. The victim was forced to sell her home and move into an assisted living facility after the thefts were discovered, and Lewis-

A 96-year-old World War II veteran lost over $322,000 of his retirement savings to Ternion Group International LLC, a fraudulent Christian investment company that promised to build a vocational school and purchase homes in Chicago, with his own son (age 70) convincing him to invest; the DOJ charged five people in April 2024, including the son, after the promised projects never materialized and contact ceased in 2020. The case highlights the rising threat of investment scams targeting seniors, with Americans over 60 losing $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023, and demonstrates the particular vulnerability of elderly victims who may distrust reporting due to family involvement

Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, was sentenced to four and one-half years in prison for forging approximately 70 checks and stealing over $700,000 from her elderly mother in Lewistown between November 2021 and July 2023 while serving as her caregiver. Lewis-Stella also stole other assets including a silver bar, used her deceased father's credit cards, and forged a life insurance check, concealing her crimes by impersonating her mother to banks and intercepting statements. The theft forced her mother to sell her home and move into assisted living, and Lewis-Stella was ordered to pay $725,145 in restitution

Roxanna Rae Lewis-Stella, 60, of Billings, Montana, stole over $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her primary caretaker through forged checks, identity theft, and intercepting bank statements, forcing her mother to sell her home and enter assisted living. Lewis-Stella pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to four years in prison; she also misused her deceased father's credit cards and stole a life insurance check, spending the stolen funds on personal expenses including travel, clothing, and cosmetic procedures. The case highlights the vulnerability of elderly individuals dependent on family caregivers and was noted as particularly eg

This AARP awareness piece highlights elder financial exploitation as a multi-billion dollar crime and promotes a free educational event on June 20 featuring Philip Marshall, whose grandmother Brooke Astor (a wealthy New York philanthropist) was isolated, manipulated, and financially exploited by her son in her later years. The article encourages the public to learn scam prevention through AARP's Fraud Watch Network and upcoming speaker programs.

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2024) was recognized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi to promote awareness of elder fraud and abuse. The Justice Department highlighted common scams targeting seniors—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and emphasized that information and vigilance, along with partnerships between law enforcement and the public, are key to prevention. Resources like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Senior Scam Alerts are available to help older individuals and families identify and avoid fraudulent activity.

On June 15, 2024, U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlighted that financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse, costing older adults an estimated $23 billion annually. The U.S. Attorney's Office has expanded efforts to combat elder fraud through initiatives including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, which targets foreign-based schemes, the Money Mule Initiative to disrupt fraud networks, and Senior Scam Alerts educating the public about common schemes such as Social Security impostor scams, tech support fraud, and lottery scams.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15) by partnering with law enforcement agencies, AARP, Meals on Wheels, and the FBI to combat elder fraud through community education. The office hosted three public outreach events in Raleigh, Wake Forest, and Supply to help seniors recognize signs of financial scams and connect them with resources and support services. U.S. Attorney Michael Easley emphasized that seniors are frequently targeted by fraudsters and prioritized prosecuting cases involving elderly victims as part of broader efforts to protect vulnerable populations.

In 2021, the FBI reported over 90,000 older adult victims of fraud losing $1.7 billion, a 74% increase from 2020, though actual numbers likely exceed reported cases due to underreporting. Financial exploitation—the most common form of elder abuse—often comes from trusted individuals and is enabled by cognitive decline with age, emotional vulnerabilities like loneliness and isolation, low digital literacy, and specific genetic risk factors associated with Alzheimer's disease. Research shows that older adults' susceptibility to deception varies based on individual characteristics (cognition, memory, mood, social support) and the method of targeting (phishing emails, fake news, deepfakes), with

Philadelphia Corporation for Aging held an Elder Abuse Awareness Day panel discussion to address rising financial fraud against seniors, highlighting that elder abuse affects approximately 1 in 10 seniors nationally, with Pennsylvania victims losing about $12.5 million to financial exploitation. The panel discussed common fraud schemes including dishonest caregivers, unauthorized account withdrawals, and vacation rental scams, and emphasized that 60-90% of perpetrators are family members, making reporting difficult. Officials recommended protective measures such as establishing power of attorney, monitoring joint accounts, and contacting authorities like the Philadelphia District Attorney's Elder Justice Unit at (215) 686-5710 or the AARP Fraud Watch Network at (

Research from the University of Florida shows that approximately 1 in 6 Americans aged 65+ are vulnerable targets for financial fraud, with the FBI reporting over 90,000 older victims in 2021 alone, resulting in $1.7 billion in losses (a 74% increase from 2020). Psychologists have identified that susceptibility to deception varies by individual factors—including cognitive decline, memory loss, emotional state, and social isolation—as well as the method of deception employed, with those carrying Alzheimer's risk gene variants showing particular vulnerability to phishing and fraud schemes. Financial exploitation, often perpetrated by family members, caregivers, or stran

In 2024, major consumer protection organizations reported that elder real estate fraud losses increased 14 percent since 2022, with nearly 1,500 Americans ages 60 and older losing $65 million in real estate scams in 2023 alone. The fraud includes forged documents, Power of Attorney abuse, deed theft, and deceptive financial schemes targeting seniors' property and money. Organizations including AARP, the National Association of Realtors, and the National Consumer Law Center are urging states to implement stronger protections such as uniform power of attorney laws, multi-factor authentication, property record monitoring, and enhanced enforcement by adult protective services and law enforcement.

Financial exploitation of elderly residents in Sonoma County increased significantly, with Adult Protective Services reporting a 9% rise in abuse reports and 14% increase in investigations from 2022 to 2023, with 19% of over 7,800 allegations involving financial exploitation. Common scams targeting seniors include investment fraud, tech support scams, phishing schemes, and romance scams, which collectively cost victims $3.4 billion nationally in 2023, with romance scams proving particularly damaging due to the emotional manipulation involved. Experts advised seniors to avoid clicking links in suspicious emails or calls, contact companies directly to verify account issues, and be wary of requests for money from online dating

Saranac Lake Police Chief Darin Perrotte provided guidance on protecting oneself from financial scams, emphasizing the importance of skepticism toward unverifiable communications and resisting artificial urgency tactics. He outlined why seniors are vulnerable targets—including accumulated assets, trusting nature, and isolation—and recommended verification strategies such as calling organizations back using independently verified numbers and questioning requests for information companies should already have on file. Perrotte stressed protecting Social Security numbers, avoiding text-based financial requests, and remaining aware that exploitation often comes from trusted individuals like family members and caregivers rather than strangers.

Seniors are increasingly targeted by scammers using phone calls impersonating banks or relatives to steal personal information and money. According to FBI data, older Americans lost $1.6 billion to fraud from January-May 2024, with Maine victims alone losing $7.2 million in 2023 (397 cases averaging $18,040 per victim). Experts recommend pausing to verify unexpected urgent calls through known phone numbers and educating older adults about common scams, with organizations like Kennebunk Savings partnering with the Southern Maine Agency on Aging to provide fraud prevention resources and support.

In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts emphasized its commitment to prosecuting elder fraud and financial exploitation, noting that nearly one in 10 adults aged 60 and older experience some form of elder abuse annually. The office highlighted a recent case where Chukwunonso Umegbo was sentenced to over three years in prison for operating a romance scam that defrauded at least 45 victims of more than $568,000 between 2018 and 2019, including a senior who lost her home, car, and retirement savings. The District of Massachusetts has launched an Elder Justice Out

On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis highlighted the Justice Department's multi-faceted approach to combating elder fraud, including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative that target foreign-based schemes and fraud networks. The office detailed common scams affecting older Americans—including Social Security impostor schemes, tech support fraud, and lottery scams—and cited a 2023 federal conviction where a defendant defrauded an elderly widow of approximately $1.2 million by posing as her personal representative and spending her money on luxury items and lottery tickets.

The FBI reports a significant increase in elder fraud cases, with $1.6 billion in losses from January to May 2024—nearly $300 million more than the same period in 2023—and notes that Texas alone lost over $278 million in 2023. The most common schemes targeting older adults include tech support scams, romance scams, investment scams, and government impersonation scams, with investment fraud showing the sharpest growth (up 419% in losses from 2021-2023, largely due to cryptocurrency). The FBI emphasizes that seniors should verify unknown contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid sharing personal information with unverified sources, and monitor their

Elder fraud continues to rise significantly, with older Americans losing over $3.4 billion in 2023 alone—an average of $33,915 per victim and representing an 11% increase in losses from the prior year. The most common scams targeting seniors include tech support fraud (where scammers pose as legitimate companies to gain computer access), imposter scams (impersonating government agencies or financial institutions), and romance scams (criminals building fake relationships to extract money). Protective measures include avoiding unsolicited contact, never downloading software from unknown contacts, and never sharing sensitive information or credentials with unverified callers.

The FBI reports that elder fraud losses reached $1.6 billion from January to May 2024, a nearly $300 million increase from the same period in 2023, with complaints rising 14% annually. Common schemes targeting older adults include tech support scams, romance scams, investment scams (which saw 419% increase in losses from 2021-2023), and government impersonation scams. The FBI recommends seniors verify unfamiliar contacts, resist pressure to act quickly, avoid unsolicited offers, never share personal information with unverified sources, and report suspected fraud to the FBI or IC3.gov.

On June 15, 2024, the U.S. District of South Dakota joined national leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, emphasizing that one in ten older Americans are victims of elder abuse annually. The District highlighted ongoing efforts through initiatives like the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative to combat common schemes targeting seniors, including romance scams, tech support fraud, Social Security impostor scams, lottery scams, and IRS impersonation scams.

U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experience elder abuse and an estimated $28.3 billion is lost annually to elder fraud scams. The Justice Department is committed to prosecuting elder abusers through various initiatives, including the Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force and Money Mule Initiative, while providing public awareness resources on common schemes such as romance fraud, tech support scams, and Social Security impostor scams. Recent cases include the sentencing of Henry Asomani to 10 years in federal prison for a romance fraud conspiracy that stole over $3 million from more than a dozen victims.

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, highlighting that while consumers over 60 lose money to scams less frequently than younger people, they lose significantly larger amounts when victimized—averaging nearly $1,000 compared to under $500 for those under 60. Common scams targeting seniors include grandparent scams (using impersonation and AI voice cloning), Medicare scams during enrollment periods, and tech support scams falsely claiming to be from Apple or Microsoft. The article provides prevention strategies for each scam type and guidance on how to supportively help victims by responding with empathy, listening to their experience, validating their story, and assisting with reporting and recovery steps.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by announcing a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat fraud targeting older citizens. The agencies will hold a public town hall on June 20, 2024, to educate seniors about recognizing and preventing fraud schemes, including tech support scams, romance scams, and Social Security impostor fraud. The Justice Department emphasizes that awareness and information are key to protecting vulnerable populations from financial, physical, and psychological harm.

On June 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky observed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, highlighting that one in ten people over 60 experiences some form of elder abuse, with an estimated $28.3 billion lost annually to elder fraud scams. In 2023, Kentucky's FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 908 complaints from individuals over 60 reporting $12.8 million in losses, more than any other age group combined. The Justice Department brought nearly 300 criminal and civil actions against over 650 defendants in the past year who stole more than $1.5 billion from 2.4