By Fredrick P. Niemann, Esq. an Elder Abuse Attorney
Elder financial abuse can be simple as a family member taking money from grandma’s purse without asking her, or as complex as embezzling money from grandma’s bank account. In New Jersey, there is a Money Management Program offered by the New Jersey Division of Aging and Community Services that assists senior citizens with paying bills, budgeting, writing checks, reconciling bank statements, and other needs. This is a beneficial service that the elderly can use to make sure that they are not being financially abused.
In addition to the family members targeting elderly people, there are scams that target them as well. Scammers often target elderly people for lottery scams, mail fraud, ID theft, and credit card fraud. In addition to these scams, there are often cases where elderly people are sold items they don’t need at exorbitant prices, or are convinced to buy an appliance such as a television, to find that there is a rock in the box.
Scammers take advantage of the naivety of an elderly person when deciding to target them. Elderly people are seen as being relatively wealthy, since they are often retired and thus have access to a large savings. Elderly people are often unwilling to report scammers, as they are fearful of the scammer and thus easily manipulated and exploited. Scammers are good at being able to establish the trust of an elderly person so that they can take advantage of them, so it is important for elderly people to be vigilant. When an elderly person falls victim to financial abuse, it is also important that they have someone who is willing to legally represent them in court.
If you have any questions about elder abuse and financial exploitation in New Jersey, contact me personally today. I am easy to talk to, very approachable and can offer you practical, legal ways to handle your concerns. You can reach me toll free at (855) 376-5291 or e-mail me at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com.