NCJ Number
61905
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE AND PREVENTION OF FRAUD PEPETRATED AGAINST THE ELDERLY ARE EXAMINED IN THIS PRESENTATION AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGING AND THE FAMILY, HELD IN UTAH IN MAY 1979.
Abstract
RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT 75 PERCENT OF FRAUD VICTIMS ARE THE ELDERLY. IN ADDITION, A PORTLAND, OREGON STUDY FOUND THAT ALMOST A QUARTER OF THE CRIMES AGAINST THE ELDERLY CONSISTED OF HARASSMENT OR FRAUD. MOREOVER, FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SOMETIMES THE PERPETRATORS. ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE FREQUENTLY FRAUD VICTIMS BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND PHYSICAL VULNERABILITIES. FRAUD IS AN INSIDIOUS CRIME EXPLOITING VICTIMS' EMOTIONAL VULNERABILITIES AND DAMAGING THEIR SELF CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM. UNLIKE OTHER CRIMES, HOWEVER, IT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO INTERVENTION BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND OTHERS BEFORE AND DURING ITS PERPETRATION. MAJOR TYPES OF FRAUDS INCLUDE CONFIDENCE FRAUD SUCH AS THE PIGEON DROP SCHEME, CONSUMER FRAUD SUCH AS SALE OF SUPPLEMENTARY HEALTH INSURANCE OF LITTLE BENEFIT, AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAUD SUCH AS ABUSES FOUND IN NURSING HOMES. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM DEVOTES FEW RESOURCES TO FRAUD PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION. PROSECUTORS AND POLICE CONSUMER FRAUD UNITS ARE HELPFUL ONLY AFTER FRAUD IS COMMITTED. CONSUMER LITIGATION IS OFTEN AN UNSATISFACTORY SOLUTION IN THESE CASES BECAUSE OF ITS COSTS IN TIME AND MONEY AND THE PROBLEMS IN IDENTIFYING THE PERPETRATOR. THE MOST EFFECTIVE HELP FOR THE ELDERLY IS CONSUMER CRIME PREVENTION EDUCATION CONDUCTED BY POLICE AGENCIES OR GROUPS SERVING THE AGING. IN ADDITION, SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN ANY CASE WHERE FAMILY SUPPORT IS ABSENT. (CFW)