U.S. Attorney Ramsdell Recognizes Elder Abuse Awareness Month

SIOUX FALLS - Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, joins federal, state, tribal, and local advocates in recognizing June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month to increase awareness of the many forms of elder abuse and promote the resources available to those at risk.

“Millions of seniors are affected by elder abuse each year, which robs them of their finances, their security, and their dignity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those that target our vulnerable friends, family and neighbors. It is crucial that the public also join the effort by checking on older adults and watching for signs of abuse or unusual financial transactions.” said U.S. Attorney Ramsdell.

Warning signs that your loved one may be experiencing elder fraud include:

• Unexplained charges or withdrawals from a bank account;
• Suspicious signatures on checks or other financial documents;
• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial document; and
• Unpaid bills despite having adequate financial resources.

To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the various tactics used in specific scams or frauds. Common examples may include:

• Calls from someone you don’t know telling you a loved one has been kidnapped or arrested;
• Requests for money from an online romantic partner you’ve never met or have just met; and
• Requests to buy and forward gift cards and information.

To learn more about the Department’s elder justice efforts, visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.