As Baby Boomers hit their golden years and human life-spans lengthen, financial fraud schemes against the elderly are becoming the fastest growing crime in the United States, according to attorney Jessica Dimitrov, whose Vancouver practice focuses on guardianship, estate planning and vulnerable adult abuse cases.
The National Center on Elder Abuse estimates that only 1 in 25 financial exploitation cases is reported, suggesting an excess of 5 million victims each year.
“People are seeing it everywhere, and no one knows what to do about it,” Dimitrov said.
[...] The growing problem of elder abuse, including neglect and fraud, was the topic of a public forum Tuesday at Coastal Carolina University. [...]
Pingback by Investigation News - Experts focus on elder abuse - PInow.com Investigator Directory — February 20, 2007 @ 10:12 pm
Guardian abuse is also on the upswing. And I believe that this fraud needs to be stopped. Guardians often abuse, neglect and exploit their wards but too many times I believe they are never held accountable. Guardians routinely force their victims into nursing homes so they can sell off real estate and personal belongings, converting to cash so they can over bill, double bill, downright fraudulently bill until all of the hard earned money and assets of the ward is in the guardians pockets. Many victims are left penniless with broken spirits and failing health. This is happening every day in our country. And it is a crying shame. The worst of it all, is a guardianship ward is stripped of all rights, including the right to complain about the abuse.
Any abuse against an elderly or vulnerable person should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. And this should include guardianship abuse.
Comment by A reader — March 31, 2007 @ 11:43 pm