Crimes against the Elderly
The US has a rapidly growing elderly population. And, unfortunayley, the number of elderly people being victimized by criminals has grown rapidly as well.
Scams again the elderly are crimes we don't get to map much - they normally show up as theft or assault - but we would like to bring more attention to them.
Most elderly victims are over the age of 75 and depend on other people. The need for personal assistance increases with age. Also with age, the less 'in tune' with the world an older person becomes. A lot of older people are more financially concerned (especially if they are retired), so it would be easier to scam someone into giving away private healthcare information or billing information. This leaves an elderly person very vulnerable and an easy target.
For example, a recent scam in Stafford County, VA included a phone scam where someone pretended to be the person's grandchild. The 'grandchild' would convince the grandparent that they were stranded in a foreign county and needed money. Luckily, no one sent moeny to the phoney grandchild so none of the reported incidents became a crime.
Some other types of phone fraud that elderly fall victim to include phishing, charity fraud, sweepstakes fraud, phony health insurance policies, and home repair scams.
With age comes disease and not so good health. Alzheimer and different forms of dementia may leave a person as a very easy target. The dementia patient may never realize or remember that their in home care taker has been stealing money or items from them. To a criminal, its like taking candy from a baby.
Other ways criminals take advantage of the elderly is through the care, or lack of, that they receive from a caretaker. In Chicago, a daughter-in-law and granddaughter were charged with criminal neglect for an 86 your old woman. The step-daughter and granddaughter essentially left the woman to rot while they spent her money that was meant for her care.
If you are worried about your elderly family or friend being a victim of a crime, always check on them. Talk to them about potential scams and let them know that you are there to help. Need to get more care for your mom or dad? Do your research on the home or caretaker. Make sure to visit them frequently. Be weary of any new friends they may make, its OK to assume sometimes!
Scams again the elderly are crimes we don't get to map much - they normally show up as theft or assault - but we would like to bring more attention to them.
Most elderly victims are over the age of 75 and depend on other people. The need for personal assistance increases with age. Also with age, the less 'in tune' with the world an older person becomes. A lot of older people are more financially concerned (especially if they are retired), so it would be easier to scam someone into giving away private healthcare information or billing information. This leaves an elderly person very vulnerable and an easy target.
For example, a recent scam in Stafford County, VA included a phone scam where someone pretended to be the person's grandchild. The 'grandchild' would convince the grandparent that they were stranded in a foreign county and needed money. Luckily, no one sent moeny to the phoney grandchild so none of the reported incidents became a crime.
Some other types of phone fraud that elderly fall victim to include phishing, charity fraud, sweepstakes fraud, phony health insurance policies, and home repair scams.
With age comes disease and not so good health. Alzheimer and different forms of dementia may leave a person as a very easy target. The dementia patient may never realize or remember that their in home care taker has been stealing money or items from them. To a criminal, its like taking candy from a baby.
Other ways criminals take advantage of the elderly is through the care, or lack of, that they receive from a caretaker. In Chicago, a daughter-in-law and granddaughter were charged with criminal neglect for an 86 your old woman. The step-daughter and granddaughter essentially left the woman to rot while they spent her money that was meant for her care.
If you are worried about your elderly family or friend being a victim of a crime, always check on them. Talk to them about potential scams and let them know that you are there to help. Need to get more care for your mom or dad? Do your research on the home or caretaker. Make sure to visit them frequently. Be weary of any new friends they may make, its OK to assume sometimes!
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