SENIOR SAFETY PRESENTATIONSENIOR SAFETY PRESENTATION

• Elder Abuse Problem• How the Calgary Police Service responds to this

issue

• Most Prevalent Frauds/Scams

• Case Studies

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

Contributing Societal TrendsContributing Societal TrendsElder AbuseElder Abuse

• Adult children in the home• Multi generational homes• Financial/Legal - Power of

Attorney (POA)• Immigration• Family caregivers• Dementia prevalence

• Grey Tsunami

Why Are the Elderly Targeted?

• Isolated

• Loneliness

• Perceived as Trusting

• Higher Disposable Income

• Possible Declining Mental Alertness

Why Do Offenders Do It?

• Low Risk of Detection

• Less Exposure to Violence/Jail

• Potential Big Payday

• Often Multijurisdictional/Hard to Investigate (Scams)

• Crime of Opportunity (close relationship)

Why Does It Work?

• Skilled Manipulators• Same Techniques as Child Molesters (Grooming)• Create Urgency• Secrecy• Companionship• Understanding• Flattery• Family Discord

• Great Actors (Play off your Cues)• Take Advantage of Caring Instincts (Grandchild Scam)• Victims May be Financially Insecure (Lottery Scam)• Greed (Gambling/Investment Fraud)• Naive (Partner Did the Finances)

Why Such Low Reporting?Estimates of 1 in 20 elderly being financially exploited

Only 1 in 9 reporting

•Embarrassment

•Unaware They Are Being Victimized• Lottery/Investment Scam

•Fear of Being Viewed as Too Vulnerable• Lose Independence

•Intimidation/Threats

How to Push Back?

• Be Suspicious• Contract Scammer• Untrustworthy family or Acquaintance

• Be Involved-Isolation makes you Vulnerable• Power of Attorney Options

• Third Party Overview• Double Signatures

• Calgary Legal Guidance

• Elder Abuse Resource Line

• Canadian Anti Fraud Centre

• One Sergeant• Five Investigators• Two Social Workers

• Provide a variety of • Investigative• Referral• Support

Elder Abuse Response Team(EART)

• Physical• Threats, Intimidation, Extortion• Neglect• Financial• Verbal, Emotional• Sexual

*(not all fall under police jurisdiction)

(EART) Continued…

Some Signs of Abuse• Fear, Anxiety, Depression

• Unexplained injuries

• Dehydration, poor health

• Improper use of meds

• Unexplained debt or credit issues

• Loss of Assets

• Withdrawn, secretive

Social Work RoleSocial Work Role

• Acts as a resource, provides support and adjustment counseling

• Referrals to community partners and agencies• Court orientation

• accompaniment to court• updates on court procedures

• Follow up after the case is resolved*• Family Education – pre-charge correction of behavior*• Risk assessment of offender(s)*• Offender Management after charge*

*in conjunction with police support

• The Elder Abuse Resource Line (EARL) received more than 2,000 calls related to Elder Abuse.

 • EART was assigned 106 files for investigation. 

• Approximately 20% of these investigations resulted from phone calls to EARL and approximately 80% resulted from direct phone calls to the police.

 • A total of 37 criminal code charges were laid as a result of

these investigations.

• Nineteen Offenders

*Stats from 2015 Jan-Aug

SuccessesSuccesses

Elder Abuse Resource Line: (403)705-3250

• Home Care• Way In Network• Calgary Seniors Resource Society• City of Calgary Programs – City Link• Alberta Health Services• Mental Health Community Supports• Legal Aid/Legal Guidance – Elder Law Clinics• Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee• The Kerby Centre• Senior Connect Calgary• Calgary Legal Guidance

Referral SourcesReferral Sources

Most Common Scams and Frauds

• Grandparent Scam - Emergency Scam• Investment Scam• Pyramid Scam• Overpayment Scam• Phishing Scam

• Malware - Trickery• Identity Theft - Skimming

• Home Improvement Scam• Romance Scam• Lottery Scam

• Investment Scam• Low Risk - High Return• Exclusive• Time Sensitive• Secret• Only One Person Touches the Money

• Pyramid Scam• First in gets paid by last in until it collapses

• Overpayment Scam• Overpaid for a purchase with bogus cheque• You pay with real money

• Phishing• Skimming

IDENTITIY THEFT AND FRAUDIDENTITIY THEFT AND FRAUD

What is your Financial Identity?

• Your assets on record (what you own)• Your identification• Your bank accounts• Your personal information

• Name and Date of Birth• Home Address• SIN, D/L, Health Care Numbers• Bank Account Numbers • Credit Card numbers

• along with the Card Verification Value (CVV) security numbers

• PINs, Passwords, User ID’s

Theft from wallets and pursesTheft of mailSkimming of debit and credit cardsTelephone solicitationInformant in a position of trustShoulder surfingDumpster divingOnline - Computer hacking (malware) - Information given over as a result of a phishing scam

How are identities stolen?

Signs Identity Theft/Fraud has occurred:• Increase in strange mail or phone calls regarding

services never applied for.

(i.e.. Credit Applications, Statements, Bills)• Decrease in mail

(i.e.. Monthly Statements) • Phone calls by collection agencies for a defaulted

account. • Unexplained activity on your credit record

Identity Theft and Fraud cont’dIdentity Theft and Fraud cont’d

• Home Improvement Scam• Use a respected contractor/Check

references• Service Alberta - Licensed?• Multiple bids - Detailed contract• Don’t feel pressured - Never pay up front• Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited?

• Romance Scam• Prey on the lonely

• Lottery Scam• Have to pay to collect• Often goes on and on

• Shred all documents with personal information• Reduce number of credit cards and bank accounts• Notify bank of lost/stolen cheques or credit cards• When making a purchase:

o Keep your card in view at all timeso Ensure you retrieve your card

• Don’t give away your information online• Keep Antivirus and Malware software up to date

HOW DO YOUPROTECT YOURSELF?

• Always take receipts, and shred if not needed• Only provide ID and credit card information over the

phone when you have initiated the call• Always keep your PIN confidential and change it often• Avoid unsolicited emails and the attachments and links

included

Be Suspicious!

PROTECTING YOURSELF cont’dPROTECTING YOURSELF cont’d

• Call the creditor (bank/credit card company) • to report the incident • cancel all credit/debit cards

• Call the police • Visit “antifraudcentre.ca” • Report the incident

• Call Equifax (1-800-465-7166)• Call TransUnion (1-800-663-9980)

IF YOU ARE VICTIMIZEDIF YOU ARE VICTIMIZED

• You are not the only one…• Will be helping someone benefit from you

experience• No stigma involved• Best way to make it stop

Questions/Discussion?