On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, let’s protect those who raised us

Friday, June 15, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Combating fraud that targets or disproportionately affects the elderly is a key priority of the Department of Justice. To highlight the department's focus on this area, as U.S. attorney, I have made it a priority to prosecute elder fraud cases, working together with the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the state of Alaska's Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance.

Everyone is susceptible to financial crimes, but our elderly population is the most vulnerable to this kind of abuse. The elderly are often targeted by financial predators because they have assets and funds accumulated over a lifetime of work. Some may be more susceptible to financial crimes because studies show that the ability to detect threats diminishes in seniors before other more obvious daily functions.

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The impacts from these types of crimes on the elderly are more devastating because their earning years are behind them, so the ability to recover financially is limited. These problems are exacerbated by the rapidly increasing population over the age of 65, which has almost doubled from the 1970s to the present. And no one is immune: Studies show that the level of education does not protect the elderly from being victimized. Nationally, elder fraud losses cost billions of dollars.

Currently in Alaska, we are investigating and prosecuting a variety of cases targeting elders, including identity theft, fraudulent investment schemes, insurance schemes, romance schemes and grandparent schemes, among others. We have had successes, but there are many challenges. Many of the schemes are run via the internet from outside the United States and extradition is only possible from some countries. Recovering money is difficult, as it is often gone by the time investigators catch up with the perpetrator. Many elderly victims are embarrassed when they realize they have been victimized and either delay reporting the scheme or do not report at all. By raising awareness on the issue of elder fraud, it is my hope that the elderly, as well as their friends and families, are vigilant against such schemes. However, if caught up in a scheme, I want our elders to understand they are not alone. Once they realize they have been scammed, I hope they will report it immediately, increasing the likelihood of a successful prosecution.

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Moreover, federal and state agencies are reaching out to our elderly neighbors to make sure they have the information to protect themselves. Just this week, representatives from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the State of Alaska Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance visited the Anchorage Pioneer Home and gave a presentation to its residents about the warning signs and steps they could take to ensure they are protected from financial fraud schemes.

It is important to have discussions within our families and our community about how to guard against these kinds of schemes targeting our most financially vulnerable population, and to help remove the stigma that delays or prevents reporting. For reporting, the Department of Justice has created a matrix that leads you through a series of questions. The answers will point you to the correct place to file a complaint. You can  contact the State of Alaska Office of Elder Fraud and Assistance or visit its website if you believe you are a victim of financial exploitation.

We will continue to prosecute elder fraud cases and to hold financial predators accountable for their crimes, but it is important as a community to do what we can to prevent these abuses.

Bryan Schroder currently serves as the United States Attorney for the District of Alaska. He was appointed U.S. Attorney in November 2017. He has served in the U.S. Attorney's Office for more than 12 years, prosecuting a variety of cases including violent crimes, drug distribution, gun crimes, fraud, tax evasion, environmental crimes, and fisheries and wildlife offenses. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, he served 24 years in the U.S. Coast Guard and is a retired Captain.

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