Public Safety: Protecting Our Elders from Scams, Abuse, and Neglect

By District Attorney Shannon Wallace

Imagine receiving an unexpected phone call telling you that your child or grandchild was in a terrible accident and needed assistance right away. Most of us would drop everything to help, no questions asked.

This is exactly why scammers continue to use ploys like this with susceptible, older adults who stand to lose all their retirement savings. These criminals are savvy and use technology to scam even the wisest of victims.

Since June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, it’s a good time to review common scams and abuse that especially affect our elderly.

Common Scams

Imposter scams — Imposter scams occur when criminals pose as family members, law enforcement officers, bank officials, or others in an attempt to trick people into giving them money or personal data. Recently, a defendant mimicked the voice of an individual’s grandchild, which we believe she found on social media, to deceive and scam the victim out of money.
Romance scams — Online dating provides scammers with the opportunity to pose as a love interest and then convince the unwary to send money, usually in the form of gift cards.
Sweepstakes or inheritance scams — Victims are told they will receive a large sum of money, but first they must pay a processing fee to claim it. Of course, no winnings follow.

Elder Abuse

Apart from scams by strangers, elder abuse can also occur with trusted family, friends, or caregivers. Typically, elder abuse is one (or all) of the following:

Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse;
Failure to provide essential medical care, adequate nutrition, hygiene, or a safe living environment;
Financial exploitation by using force, threats, or deceit to deprive access to financial resources.

How We Help

The District Attorney’s Office has a specialized unit to handle the prosecution of these crimes. In 2017, our office founded, and now leads, a multidisciplinary team that meets monthly and brings together organizations committed to protecting vulnerable adults from situations of abuse or exploitation. Members discuss reports of abuse and collaborate to ensure victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation are better served. In 2021, the group reviewed 371 cases of suspected abuse or neglect of elders or vulnerable adults in Cherokee, up from 235 cases in 2020.

We also partner with Cherokee Triad S.A.L.T., an organization that works to reduce victimization of senior citizens by offering programs for seniors and caregivers. More information on these programs can be found here: SALTCherokee.com.

How You Can Help

We all can play a role in reducing victimization of our vulnerable population. Visit older adults in your life and make sure they are healthy and safe. Talk to them about common scams and ensure they are making sound decisions.

Report elder abuse through the Georgia Division of Aging Services at 866-55AGING (866-552-4464) or Aging.Georgia.gov/report-elder-abuse. Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.

Remember, scammers often pose as someone you might normally trust. While scammers may specifically target senior citizens, even the savviest among us can be tricked.

Georgia laws related to elder abuse: O.C.G.A. §16-5-101, §16-5-102, §16-5-23.1