U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides Series

No. 20 

Financial Crimes 

Against the 

Elderly 

by 

Kelly Dedel Johnson 

www.cops.usdoj.gov 
www.PopCenter.org
 

Center for Problem-Oriented Policing 

Got a Problem? We’ve got answers! 

Log onto the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing website 

at www.popcenter.org for a wealth of information to help 

you deal more effectively with crime and disorder in your 

community, including: 

• Web-enhanced versions of all currently available Guides 

• Interactive training exercises 

• On-line access to research and police practices 

Designed for police and those who work with them to 

address community problems, www.popcenter.org is a great 

resource in problem-oriented policing. 

Supported by the Office of Community Oriented Policing 

Services, U.S. Department of Justice. 
Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides Series 

Guide No. 20 

Financial Crimes Against 

the Elderly 

Kelly Dedel Johnson 

This project was supported by cooperative agreement 

#2002CKWX0003 by the Office of Community Oriented Policing 

Services, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions contained herein 

are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the 

official position of the U.S. Department of Justice. 

www.cops.usdoj.gov 

ISBN: 1-932582-22-3 

About the Problem-Specific Guides Series i 

About the Problem-Specific Guides Series 

The Problem-Specific Guides summarize knowledge about 

how police can reduce the harm caused by specific crime 

and disorder problems. They are guides to prevention and 

to improving the overall response to incidents, not to 

investigating offenses or handling specific incidents. The 

guides are written for police–of whatever rank or 

assignment–who must address the specific problem the 

guides cover. The guides will be most useful to officers 

who 

• Understand basic problem-oriented policing 

principles and methods. The guides are not primers in 

problem-oriented policing. They deal only briefly with 

the initial decision to focus on a particular problem, 

methods to analyze the problem, and means to assess 

the results of a problem-oriented policing project. They 

are designed to help police decide how best to analyze 

and address a problem they have already identified. (An 

assessment guide has been produced as a companion to 

this series and the COPS Office has also published an 

introductory guide to problem analysis. For those who 

want to learn more about the principles and methods of 

problem-oriented policing, the assessment and analysis 

guides, along with other recommended readings, are 

listed at the back of this guide.) 

• Can look at a problem in depth. Depending on the 

complexity of the problem, you should be prepared to 

spend perhaps weeks, or even months, analyzing and 

responding to it. Carefully studying a problem before 

responding helps you design the right strategy, one that 

is most likely to work in your community. You should 

not blindly adopt the responses others have used; you 

must decide whether they are appropriate to your local 

situation. What is true in one place may not be true 
ii Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

elsewhere; what works in one place may not work 

everywhere. 

• Are willing to consider new ways of doing police 

business. The guides describe responses that other 

police departments have used or that researchers have 

tested. While not all of these responses will be 

appropriate to your particular problem, they should help 

give a broader view of the kinds of things you could do. 

You may think you cannot implement some of these 

responses in your jurisdiction, but perhaps you can. In 

many places, when police have discovered a more 

effective response, they have succeeded in having laws 

and policies changed, improving the response to the 

problem. 

• Understand the value and the limits of research 

knowledge. For some types of problems, a lot of useful 

research is available to the police; for other problems, little 

is available. Accordingly, some guides in this series 

summarize existing research whereas other guides illustrate 

the need for more research on that particular problem. 

Regardless, research has not provided definitive answers to 

all the questions you might have about the problem. The 

research may help get you started in designing your own 

responses, but it cannot tell you exactly what to do. This 

will depend greatly on the particular nature of your local 

problem. In the interest of keeping the guides readable, not 

every piece of relevant research has been cited, nor has 

every point been attributed to its sources. To have done so 

would have overwhelmed and distracted the reader. The 

references listed at the end of each guide are those drawn 

on most heavily; they are not a complete bibliography of 

research on the subject. 
About the Problem-Specific Guides Series iii 

• Are willing to work with other community agencies 

to find effective solutions to the problem. The police 

alone cannot implement many of the responses 

discussed in the guides. They must frequently implement 

them in partnership with other responsible private and 

public entities. An effective problem-solver must know 

how to forge genuine partnerships with others and be 

prepared to invest considerable effort in making these 

partnerships work. 

These guides have drawn on research findings and police 

practices in the United States, the United Kingdom, 

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and 

Scandinavia. Even though laws, customs and police 

practices vary from country to country, it is apparent that 

the police everywhere experience common problems. In a 

world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, it is 

important that police be aware of research and successful 

practices beyond the borders of their own countries. 

The COPS Office and the authors encourage you to 

provide feedback on this guide and to report on your own 

agency's experiences dealing with a similar problem. Your 

agency may have effectively addressed a problem using 

responses not considered in these guides and your 

experiences and knowledge could benefit others. This 

information will be used to update the guides. If you wish 

to provide feedback and share your experiences it should 

be sent via e-mail to cops_pubs@usdoj.gov. 
iv Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

For more information about problem-oriented policing, 

visit the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing online at 

www.popcenter.org or via the COPS website at 

www.cops.usdoj.gov. This website offers free online access to: 

• the Problem-Specific Guides series, 

• the companion Response Guides and Problem-Solving Tools 

series, 

• instructional information about problem-oriented policing 

and related topics, 

• an interactive training exercise, and 

• online access to important police research and practices. 
Acknowledgments v 

Acknowledgments 

The Problem-Oriented Guides for Police are very much a 

collaborative effort. While each guide has a primary 

author, other project team members, COPS Office staff 

and anonymous peer reviewers contributed to each guide 

by proposing text, recommending research and offering 

suggestions on matters of format and style. 

The principal project team developing the guide series 

comprised Herman Goldstein, professor emeritus, 

University of Wisconsin Law School; Ronald V. Clarke, 

professor of criminal justice, Rutgers University; John E. 

Eck, associate professor of criminal justice, University of 

Cincinnati; Michael S. Scott, clinical assistant professor, 

University of Wisconsin Law School; Rana Sampson, 

police consultant, San Diego; and Deborah Lamm Weisel, 

director of police research, North Carolina State 

University. 

Karin Schmerler, Rita Varano and Nancy Leach oversaw 

the project for the COPS Office. Suzanne Fregly edited 

the guides. Research for the guides was conducted at the 

Criminal Justice Library at Rutgers University under the 

direction of Phyllis Schultze. 

The project team also wishes to acknowledge the members 

of the San Diego, National City and Savannah police 

departments who provided feedback on the guides' format 

and style in the early stages of the project, as well as the 

line police officers, police executives and researchers who 

peer reviewed each guide. 

Contents vii 

Contents 

About the Problem-Specific Guides Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
 

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
 

The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
 

Fraud Committed by Strangers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
 

Financial Exploitation by Relatives and Caregivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
 

Related Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
 

Factors Contributing to Financial Crimes Against the Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 

National Prevalence Estimates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
 

Underreporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
 

Victim Vulnerabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
 

Victim Facilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 

Revictimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 

Types of Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
 

Offender Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 

Warning Signs and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 

Lack of Oversight of Legal Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
 

Laws and Agencies Involved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
 

Understanding Your Local Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
 

Asking the Right Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
 

Fraud: Victims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 

Fraud: Persons Who Avoid Victimization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 

Fraud: Offenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Fraud: Incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Financial Exploitation: Victims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
 

Financial Exploitation: Offenders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
 

Financial Exploitation: Incidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
 
viii Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Measuring Your Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
 

Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
 

Financial Exploitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
 

Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
 

General Responses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
 

Specific Responses: Fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
 

Specific Responses: Financial Exploitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
 

Responses With Limited Effectiveness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
 

Appendix: Summary of Responses to Financial Crimes Against the Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
 

Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
 

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
 

About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
 

Recommended Readings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
 

Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 1 

The Problem of Financial Crimes Against 

the Elderly 

This guide addresses the problem of financial crimes 

against the elderly. It begins by describing the problem and 

reviewing risk factors. It then identifies a series of 

questions to help you analyze your local problem. Finally, 

it reviews responses to the problem and describes the 

conditions under which they are most effective. 

Financial crimes against the elderly fall under two general 

categories: fraud committed by strangers, and financial 

exploitation by relatives and caregivers. These categories 

sometimes overlap in terms of target selection and the 

means used to commit the crime. However, the differences 

in the offender-victim relationships suggest different 

methods for analyzing and responding to the problem. 

Fraud Committed by Strangers 

Fraud generally involves deliberately deceiving the victim 

with the promise of goods, services, or other benefits that 

are nonexistent, unnecessary, never intended to be 

provided, or grossly misrepresented.1 There are hundreds 

of frauds, but offenders generally use a small subset of 

these against the elderly. The frauds typically occur within 

a few interactions. 

• Prizes and sweepstakes. These frauds generally involve 

informing the victim that he or she could win, or has 

already won, a "valuable" prize or a lot of money. The 

victim is required to send in money to cover taxes, 

shipping, or processing fees. The prize may never be 

delivered or, if so, is usually costume jewelry or cheap 

electronic equipment worth less than the money paid to 

retrieve it. 
2 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• Investments. Because many seniors live on fixed incomes, 

they often want to increase the value of their estate and 

ensure they have sufficient funds to meet basic needs. In 

investment scams, offenders persuade the elderly to invest 

in precious gems, real estate, annuities, or stocks and bonds 

by promising unrealistically high rates of return. The 

investments often consist of fake gemstones, uninhabitable 

property, or shares in a nonexistent or unprofitable 

company. 

• Charity contributions. Playing on some seniors' desire to 

help others, offenders solicit donations to nonexistent 

charities or religious organizations, often using sweepstakes 

or raffles to do so. 

• Home and automobile repairs. Offenders may 

recommend an array of fraudulent "emergency" home 

repairs, often requiring an advance deposit. They may 

subsequently fail to do any work at all, start but not finish 

the work, or do substandard work that requires correction. 

Common frauds include roof repairs, driveway resurfacing, 

waterproofing, and pest control. The offenders are often 

transient, moving among neighborhoods, cities, and even 

states. Dishonest auto mechanics may falsely inform 

customers that certain repairs are needed, or they may bill 

for services or repairs that were not requested or were not 

completed. 

• Loans and mortgages. Seniors may experience cash flow 

shortages in the face of needed medical care or home 

repairs. Predatory lenders may provide loans with 

exorbitant interest rates, hidden fees, and repayment 

schedules far exceeding the elderly's means, often at the 

risk of their home, which has been used as collateral. 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 3 

• Health, funeral, and life insurance. Many seniors are 

concerned about having the funds to pay for needed 

medical care or a proper burial, or to bequeath to loved 

ones upon death. Unscrupulous salespeople take advantage 

of these concerns by selling the elderly policies that 

duplicate existing coverage, do not provide the coverage 

promised, or are altogether bogus.† 

† Harshbarger (1993) commented 

on this problem as having "all of the 

factors which create an environment 

for fraud and exploitation...the need 

is great, the cost is high, even 

legitimate policies are complex and 

confusing, and the population is 

vulnerable and living in fear of the 

day the bill comes due." 

†† See Whitlock (1994) for detailed 

descriptions of numerous 

confidence games. 

• Health remedies. The elderly often have health problems 

that require treatment. Preying on this vulnerability, 

offenders market a number of ineffective remedies, 

promising "miracle cures." Unfortunately, given this false 

hope, many seniors delay needed treatment, and their 

health deteriorates further. 

• Travel. Compared with younger adults, seniors often have 

more leisure time and are attracted to low-cost travel 

packages. However, many of these packages cost far more 

than market rates, provide substandard accommodations, 

or do not provide the promised services. 

• Confidence games. These frauds generally do not involve 

a product or service; instead, they include a broad array of 

deceitful scenarios to get cash from the elderly. The 

offender may pretend to be in a position of authority (e.g., 

a bank examiner), or otherwise trustworthy, concocting a 

story to get the victim to hand over cash, then 

disappearing.†† For example, the perpetrators of "lottery 

scams" claim to have won the lottery but to have no bank 

account in which to deposit the winnings. The offender 

promises the victim a premium in exchange for use of his 

or her account. After the victim makes a "good faith" 

payment to the offender, the victim never hears from the 

offender again. 
4 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

In addition to variations in the type of product or service 

offered, frauds vary widely in the means used to commit 

them. 

• Telemarketing. Offenders call people at home, using 

high-pressure tactics to solicit money for fraudulent 

investments, insurance policies, travel packages, charities, 

and sweepstakes. Fraudulent telemarketing operations are 

designed to limit the benefit to the customer while 

maximizing the profit for the telemarketer and for the 

highly efficient contact of a lot of potential customers.† 

† See Schulte (1995) for detailed 

descriptions of a variety of 

telemarketing scams. 

• Mail. Fraudulent prize and sweepstakes operations often 

mail materials to a wide audience, relying on potential 

victims to "self-select" by returning a postcard or calling to 

indicate their interest. The mailings often look official, use 

extensive personalization (e.g., repeating the recipient's 

name in the text), include claims of authenticity, have 

contradictory content or "double-talk," and make a 

seemingly low-key request for the recipient to submit a 

small fee.2 

• Face-to-face contact. Some frauds involving products 

and services (e.g., home and auto repairs) require face-toface contact at either the victim's home or a business. 

Alternatively, a scammer gains entry to the victim's home 

by posing as a utility worker and distracts the victim while 

an accomplice burglarizes the home. 

Successful frauds share common elements. The offenders 

gain trust and confidence through their charisma, by using 

a business name similar to that of a well-established 

organization, or by communicating a concern for the 

elder's well-being. They create the impression that the 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 5 

elder has been "chosen" or is "lucky" to receive the offer, 

and that such offers are rare. They encourage their victims 

to make an immediate decision or commitment to 

purchase products or services, which effectively limits the 

opportunity for consultation with others. Further, since 

the "special" offers are available to only a select group of 

customers, the offenders ask the victims to be discreet and 

not discuss the details, shrouding the transaction in 

secrecy and decreasing the chance of discovery by a family 

member, neighbor, or other concerned party. The frauds 

occur quickly, with little risk of exposure. 

Financial Exploitation by Relatives and Caregivers 

Unlike strangers, relatives and caregivers often have a 

position of trust and an ongoing relationship with the 

elderly. Financial exploitation occurs when the offender 

steals, withholds, or otherwise misuses their elderly 

victims' money, property, or valuables for personal 

advantage or profit, to the disadvantage of the elder. Their 

methods can include the following: 

• simply taking the elder's money, property, or valuables; 

• borrowing money (sometimes repeatedly) and not paying it 

back; 

• denying services or medical care to conserve funds; 

• giving away or selling the elder's possessions without 

permission; 

• signing or cashing pension or social security checks 

without permission; 

• misusing ATM or credit cards, or using them without 

permission; 

• doling out the elder's money to family or friends; and 

• forcing the elder to part with resources or to sign over 

property.3 
6 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

The tactics offenders use include deceit, coercion, 

intimidation, emotional abuse, or empty promises of 

lifelong care. Further, they usually try to isolate the victim 

from friends, family, and other concerned parties. By 

doing so, they prevent others from asking about the elder's 

well-being or relationship with the offender, prevent the 

elder from consulting with others on important financial 

decisions, and, perhaps most tragically, give the elder the 

impression that no one else cares about him or her. 

In addition, relatives and caregivers sometimes exploit the 

following financial and legal arrangements: 

• Joint bank accounts. Under the guise of helping the 

elder with his or her financial affairs, the offender has 

his or her name added to the elder's bank account, 

allowing the offender to deposit, withdraw, or transfer 

funds. The offender may threaten or coerce the elder 

into giving consent, or get consent despite the elder's 

limited capacity to make an informed decision. 

• Deed or title transfer. The elder transfers ownership 

of property such as homes, real estate, or cars to the 

offender. This may occur as the result of force or 

intimidation, or as a "gift" or other transaction the 

elder does not fully comprehend. 

• Power of attorney and durable power of attorney. 

These legal arrangements give a person the authority to 

manage the elder's affairs on the elder's behalf. When 

used properly, the legally appointed agent makes 

decisions that are in the elder's best interest. Misuse 

arises when the agent induces the elder to sign the 

document; makes decisions or transactions that benefit 

the agent, to the detriment of the elder; uses the power 

after it has been terminated; or uses the power for 

purposes other than what is intended. 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 7 

• Living trusts and wills. To avoid potentially expensive 

probate fees and estate taxes, an individual can transfer 

property and other assets into a trust. The effectiveness 

of this legitimate estate-planning tool depends, of 

course, on the trustworthiness of the person appointed 

to manage the trust. In addition, through a variety of 

emotional appeals, a perpetrator may induce an elder to 

change his or her will, making the perpetrator the sole 

beneficiary upon the elder's death. 

Distinguishing between an unwise, but legitimate, financial 

transaction and an exploitative transaction resulting from 

undue influence, duress, fraud, or lack of informed consent 

can be difficult.4 Suspicious transactions may be wellintentioned but guided by poor advice. Generally, financial 

exploitation involves a pattern of behaviors, rather than 

single incidents. 

Related Problems 

Financial crimes against the elderly share some 

characteristics with other crimes. Related problems 

requiring separate analysis and response include: 

• identity theft, 

• Internet fraud, 

• check and credit card fraud, and 

• prescription fraud. 

Financial exploitation of the elderly may also occur in 

concert with other types of elder abuse, including: 

• physical abuse, 

• sexual abuse, 

• emotional abuse, and 

• neglect. 
8 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Factors Contributing to Financial Crimes 

Against the Elderly 

Understanding the factors that contribute to your problem 

will help you frame your own local analysis questions, 

determine good effectiveness measures, recognize key 

intervention points, and select appropriate responses. 

National Prevalence Estimates 

As discussed above, there are many types of fraud and 

financial exploitation. In addition, states vary in terms of 

the age at which one is considered "elderly." These factors 

make it very difficult to estimate national prevalence. 

Typically, crime rates are listed in sources of official 

statistics, such as the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports and 

the Justice Department's National Crime Victimization 

Survey. However, neither of these sources provides 

information on victimization by fraud. Furthermore, 

studies relying on reports of victimization are particularly 

limited given the widespread agreement that fraud is 

dramatically underreported. 

However, several national organizations have completed 

studies offering various ways to quantify the rate of 

financial crimes against the elderly. Some of these focus 

on consumer fraud, estimating that somewhere between 20 

and 60 percent of adult Americans have reported being 

the victim, or attempted victim, of it.5 These studies do 

not separate prevalence estimates across age. Within the 

general category of consumer fraud are estimates of losses 

due to telemarketing fraud. In 2000, the U.S. Senate 

Special Committee on Aging reported that, each year, 

consumers lose approximately $40 billion to telemarketing 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 9 

fraud, and estimated that approximately 10 percent of the 

nation's 14,000 telemarketing firms were fraudulent.6 Some 

researchers estimate that only one in 10,000 fraud victims 

reports the crime to the authorities.7 

Other studies focus on the extent of financial exploitation 

by relatives or caregivers. In 1998, the National Center on 

Elder Abuse reported an estimated 21,427 substantiated 

cases of financial or material exploitation of an elder, 

accounting for approximately one-third of all 

substantiated elder abuse cases, including physical and 

sexual abuse and neglect.8 In 1998, using data from 24 

states, the National Aging Resource Center on Elder 

Abuse estimated that 20 percent of elder abuse victims 

were victims of financial exploitation.9 State-level surveys 

have identified higher proportions of financial exploitation 

within reported elder abuse cases, with over 40 percent of 

elder abuse cases in California and North Carolina 

involving financial exploitation.10 

The usefulness of these studies in determining the scope 

of your local problem is rather limited. However, they 

show that the problem affects a large proportion of the 

population, regardless of age, and is likely to be 

underreported by victims and underrepresented in official 

statistics. 

Underreporting 

Researchers agree that elder fraud is dramatically 

underreported, which is problematic for several reasons. 

First, the failure to report means that the assistance of 

police, adult protective services, family members and 

others is not mobilized to stop the abuse. Second, even if 

intervention is not necessary, the underreporting of these 
10 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

crimes makes it very difficult for problem-oriented efforts 

to proceed because of a lack of information on the 

targets, methods and perpetrators. Finally, the lack of 

reporting may encourage the offenders to victimize others. 

Many elderly victims do not report fraud because they feel 

ashamed, or they fear others will think they cannot care 

for themselves, which may trigger placement in a nursing 

home or long-term care facility. Significantly, many victims 

are not aware of support resources or do not know how 

to access them. In the case of financial exploitation, many 

victims have close ties to the offender and may feel 

protective. They may want to stop the exploitation and 

recover their assets, but not want the offender punished. 

In addition, many victims believe they are at least partially 

to blame. 

Professionals (e.g., bankers, attorneys, accountants, and 

doctors) are also often slow to report suspected abuse.11 

Their brief, episodic interactions with the elderly and their 

lack of expertise in undue influence and criminal conduct 

serve as barriers to reporting. Even if they suspect abuse, 

there often is no specific protocol for reporting it. 

When elderly victims do report losses by fraud or financial 

exploitation, the report quality often makes investigation 

difficult.12 If cognitively impaired, the victim may not 

remember important details or may not be able to recount 

the sequence of events. Victim interviewers should put 

victims at ease and provide sufficient time and cues for 

accurate recall, or else the reports may lack important 

details. (These issues are discussed more thoroughly in the 

"Responses" section of this guide). Finally, cognitively and 

physically impaired seniors may feel overwhelmed at the 

prospect of traveling to the police station, district 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 11 

attorney's office, or court. Given that complicated cases of 

fraud and financial exploitation may take years to go to 

trial, it is possible that a particularly frail victim's cognitive 

or physical health will decline to the point that he or she 

cannot testify. 

Not only do these barriers to intervention make 

prevention that much more critical, but they also highlight 

the importance of developing investigative techniques that 

account for both the complexity of the crimes and the 

unique personal challenges of the victims. 

Victim Vulnerabilities 

The prevailing stereotype of elderly fraud victims is that 

they are poorly informed, socially isolated 

individuals–potentially suffering from mental 

deterioration–who cling to old-fashioned ideas of 

politeness and manners that interfere with their ability to 

detect fraud. It is true that dementia and other cognitive 

impairments sometimes play a role in elder fraud and 

financial exploitation. For seniors with advanced 

impairments, responses requiring their participation may 

have limited effectiveness. However, recent research has 

refuted prevailing stereotypes, characterizing the majority 

of potential victims as more educated, informed, and 

socially active than previously supposed. A major AARP 

(formerly known as the American Association of Retired 

Persons) survey identified fraud victims as relatively 

affluent and well-educated, with extensive networks of 

family and friends.13 This survey identified several key 

points: 
12 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• Victims were likely to believe fraudulent sales pitches, 

thinking that their chances of winning were good and 

that the prizes offered for a fee were a good bargain. 

• Over two-thirds of the respondents reported they had 

difficulty telling fraudulent and legitimate pitches apart, 

despite the fact that 90 percent had heard about 

telemarketing fraud. 

• Many victims reported having difficulty ending a 

conversation with a telemarketer, even when they 

believed the offer was fraudulent. 

There has been significant debate about the extent to 

which age affects the likelihood of consumer fraud 

victimization. That debate is beyond the scope of this 

guide. However, it is important to recognize that old age 

alone is not a reliable predictor of fraud victimization. 

Understanding the role of other risk factors can help you 

analyze your local problem and devise appropriately 

targeted responses. A number of researchers have noted 

that the following personal factors affect the extent to 

which people are likely to be victimized: 

• home ownership; 

• likelihood of seeking advice before a purchase; 

• knowledge of sources of consumer information and 

consumer rights; 

• financial risk-taking behavior; 

• openness to marketing appeals; 

• knowledge of the existence of frauds, scams, and 

misleading practices; and 

• ability to hang up on telemarketers.14 

The research implies that a lack of knowledge and of 

certain consumer skills creates a susceptibility to fraud. 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 13 

Victimization studies have found that seniors who have 

active social lives and experience a broad array of 

consumer situations may be vulnerable to fraud simply 

because of increased exposure.15 On the other hand, those 

who are socially isolated may also be vulnerable because 

they are less likely to seek advice before a purchase, and 

because the sales pitch itself addresses an unmet need for 

social interaction, resulting in their feeling obligated to be 

friendly or compliant in return.16 

Although similar to elderly fraud victims in many respects, 

seniors exploited by relatives and caregivers differ in 

significant ways. There is no aspiration for monetary gain. 

They may fear what the offender may do if they do not 

comply with his or her demands. They may also have longterm emotional ties to the offender that create conflict 

about reporting abuse, and may cause them to feel 

protective of the offender once the abuse is discovered. 

Although not studied empirically, there are abundant 

references in the literature to various lifestyle 

characteristics of the elderly believed to be linked to fraud 

victimization. Although many seniors live in poverty, home 

ownership is high among this group, and many have 

savings, pensions, and social security income. In addition, 

seniors are more likely than other demographic groups to 

be home during the day, and therefore available to 

telephone and in-person marketing efforts. These factors, 

combined with an assortment of anxieties specific to the 

elderly–the fear of outliving one's savings, of losing one's 

financial independence, of failing health–create fertile 

ground for all types of fraud and financial exploitation. 
14 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Victim Facilitation 

In contrast to victims of most other forms of crime, 

consumer fraud victims have a participatory role that is 

critical to a successful transaction. Victim compliance can 

fall along a continuum.17 At one end is the completely 

uninvolved victim, as in the case of identity theft or credit 

card fraud. Toward the middle is the victim who makes a 

purchase or financial arrangement that is not wellinformed or well-researched. At the far end is the repeat 

victim. Even after victimization, many people repeat highrisk behaviors. 

The following are key moments that put the victim at risk 

in the typical fraud transaction. They have clear relevance 

to points of intervention:18 

• The victim makes the initial contact, or takes steps that 

lead to the initial contact, indicating receptivity to the 

pitch. 

• The victim provides information about him- or herself 

that helps the offender to carry out the fraud. 

• The victim allows the conversion of a business 

relationship to one of trust, and waives customary 

safeguards. 

• The victim believes the offender's scenario or pitch. 

• The victim writes a check, gives a credit card number, 

or otherwise provides access to funds. 

In addition, certain traits might make people prone to 

fraud or financial exploitation.19 Some of these are 

considered positive, such as good citizenship, compassion, 

generosity, respect for authority, and a trusting nature. 

Others are less desirable, such as being careless, 

susceptible to flattery, or easily intimidated. Some factors 

that seem irrelevant on the surface may also contribute to 

the likelihood of fraud victimization, such as being on 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 15 

"junk mail" lists; belonging to organizations; making 

purchases over the phone or Internet; moving; buying a 

house, car, or appliance; investing; and donating to charity. 

You should be aware of the various ways fraud and 

financial exploitation victims may unwittingly help 

offenders and, when possible, assign them an active role in 

responding to the problem. 

Revictimization 

It is a well-documented fact that fraudulent operations 

compile the names of fraud victims on "mooch" or 

"sucker" lists and sell them to one another. These lists 

offer a shortcut to the typical approach of "cold calling" 

or random-number dialing, as the people listed have 

already shown themselves susceptible to fraud. 

Researchers have found that the strongest predictor of 

future victimization is past victimization.20 Not only are 

past victims retargeted, as described above, but they also 

can fall prey to scammers offering to help them recoup 

their losses from previous frauds. Fraudulent operations 

called "recovery rooms" approach past victims and offer 

to investigate the original fraud and to return the lost 

funds–for a fee. Naturally, once victims pay the recovery 

fee, they never hear from the secondary scammer again. 

The very nature of financial exploitation by relatives and 

caregivers implies a pattern of revictimization. Seldom are 

the perpetrators satisfied with a single bank withdrawal or 

forged check. Instead, the pattern is more likely to begin 

with small-value transactions, which escalate over time 

and, if undeterred, conclude with the transfer or 

expenditure of all the elder's assets, leaving the victim 

with no means of financial support. 
16 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Types of Influence 

Consumer fraud relies on the manipulation of victims' 

emotions to get them to agree to a transaction. Emotional 

ploys include making the consumer feel he or she is part 

of a special group receiving VIP services, and creating a 

sense of urgency that prevents further research into the 

transaction. In addition, offenders may refuse to accept 

"no" for an answer, have an endless supply of rebuttals 

for any excuse the victim offers, and have an aggressive 

style that intimidates the victim into complying. These 

tactics are essential components of fraud and are effective 

primarily because of their appeal to the natural human 

desires to feel special, to find a bargain, and to please. 

Particularly when investigating financial exploitation, 

vexing questions often arise as to whether the victim 

understood the transaction, appreciated the value of what 

he or she gave away or signed over, and comprehended the 

implications of the transaction. Three concepts are 

particularly critical when analyzing the range of frauds and 

associated crimes:21 

• Mental capacity. While a gradual decline in functional 

skills such as memory, calculation, and informationprocessing is natural as age advances, more pronounced 

declines can be brought on by particular illnesses, 

nutritional deficiencies, depression, and certain 

medications. Obviously, given the complex nature of 

many financial transactions, mental capacity plays an 

important role in making sound purchases and 

managing financial affairs. 

• Consent. Essentially, the term means to accept or agree 

to the proposal of another. To be legally binding, the 

person giving consent must be able to understand the 

implications of the transaction. 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 17 

• Undue influence. Perpetrators may use an array of 

techniques to gain power over the victim's decisionmaking and ensure compliance. These include isolating 

the victim, promoting dependency, and inducing fear 

and distrust of others. By threatening the victim, 

exerting pressure to act quickly, or deterring the victim 

from seeking advice from others, offenders use undue 

influence to prevent voluntary consent. 

Experts in this area note that vulnerability to undue 

influence is unrelated to intelligence. However, if an elder 

is cognitively impaired, has sensory deficits (e.g., vision or 

hearing loss), or has nutritional deficits, he or she may be 

more easily manipulated because of a lack of faith in his 

or her own memories and perceptions.22 

The influence used to perpetrate financial crimes falls 

along a continuum.23 On one end, the influence is rather 

benign, as the victim is not actually tricked or forced into 

doing something against his or her will. On the other end 

is the rather clear-cut case of theft in which the 

perpetrator takes something without the victim's consent. 

One step past benign, coercion involves undue influence 

using domination, intimidation, and threats. Further still, 

fraud involves swindling by deception, trickery, or 

misrepresentation. 

Understanding the victim's mental status and the types of 

influence used is essential for devising appropriate 

responses to the problem. 

Offender Characteristics 

The offender-victim relationship is the main criterion used 

to distinguish the major categories of financial crime in 

this guide. 
18 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Strangers. Consumer fraud offenders are usually strangers 

to their victims, although they may observe victims' 

patterns (e.g., times in or out of the house, spending 

habits, etc.) to identify them as a potential "mark." 

Telemarketers have no face-to-face contact with victims 

and may call from thousands of miles away. Given the 

attention that elder fraud has received in recent years, 

there are surprisingly few empirical studies of offenders, 

particularly in light of the extensive literature on victim 

characteristics.24 

Offenders vary greatly in terms of age, race, 

socioeconomic status, and education level. Most elder 

fraud offenders are male. They may be motivated by profit 

or a need to feel powerful and important. The challenge of 

the fraud itself may provide a "high," particularly when it 

is pulled off against wealthy or well-educated victims. In 

general, offenders are not bound by conventional norms 

or business ethics, and rationalize their behavior. In 

clinical studies, criminologists have found offenders to 

have all types of psychological dysfunctions, revealed in 

their distorted thinking processes and lack of regard for 

others.25 

In terms of behavior, those who perpetrate fraud against 

the elderly often present themselves as self-assured, 

friendly, and sophisticated. They are persistent, yet can 

often avoid raising suspicion. "What the con man does is 

an extreme expression of normal business dealings– 

salesmanship based on the ability to persuade others...the 

promise of gain is central to society...and it is not 

abnormal to offer opportunities to make money or 

improve one's health."26 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 19 

Fraudulent telemarketers frequently work out of "boiler 

rooms"–temporary, highly mobile operations that can be 

disassembled and reassembled quickly. Boiler-room 

operations typically have six stages:27 

1. Solicitation. Telemarketers identify new prospects through 

either incoming mail (postcards or certificates returned by 

people responding to bulk mailing) or unsolicited outgoing 

calls. "Mooch" or "sucker" lists are critical for efficiency at 

this stage, and most calls are out of state. 

2. Sales. The pitch is usually a written script, although most 

callers are given wide latitude in what they can promise 

and in price negotiation. A "front room" contains lessexperienced callers who make the initial contacts. Calls to 

consumers who do not accept the offer are transferred to 

a "no-sale room," where more-experienced callers pressure 

the consumers and explain away their concerns. Callers in 

a "reload room" target past victims, using an assortment of 

bogus promises to get them to buy again. Notably, the 

"reload room" callers usually solicit the bulk of the 

company's illicit income. 

3. Verification. Shortly after the sale is complete, a caller 

recontacts the customer, reviews the sales terms, and 

arranges for payment. At this stage, the caller attempts to 

obscure any misrepresentation made during the initial 

stage. 

4. Collection. To avoid buyer's remorse, the scammers must 

secure payment quickly. They do so by requiring overnight 

check mailing, bank draft authorization, or electronic 

funds transfer. Notably, because of their instability and 

illegal business practices, most boiler rooms cannot obtain 

bank merchant accounts for credit card sales. 
20 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

5. Shipping. While one might guess that the promised product 

is never shipped, successful boiler rooms have found that 

reliable shipping minimizes consumer complaints, which in 

turn decreases the likelihood of law enforcement 

intervention. Most boiler rooms use a "10 to 1" principle, 

awarding a prize valued at approximately one-tenth of the 

fee paid. 

6. Customer service, harassment, and intimidation. Ongoing 

availability to customers is important to handle problems. 

In fraudulent operations, scammers may belittle or berate 

complainants, or use delay tactics and empty promises to 

frustrate them into giving up the pursuit of recovery. 

These organizations generally provide refunds only with 

the threat of law enforcement action. 

Understanding boiler-room mobility and structure is 

essential to intervention efforts targeting the operations 

themselves. 

Relatives and caregivers. Financial exploiters of the 

elderly rely on the nature of their relationships with them 

to support the abuse. The victim has often formed a close 

bond with the offender, and may be unaware of or deny 

the abuse. In addition, the victim may fear being alone or 

being placed in a nursing home if the offender is removed. 

These dynamics are important to understand in addressing 

the emotional impact on the victim. 

A national survey found that offenders tend to be 

significantly younger than their victims, with 40 percent 

age 40 or younger, and another 40 percent age 41 to 59. 

Nearly 60 percent are male, and nearly 60 percent are 

relatives.28 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 21 

There are three general categories of offenders:† 

† Sklar's (2000) typology actually 

includes a fourth category 

–professional crime groups, which 

are not discussed here. 

1. Adult children, grandchildren, and other relatives. While an elder 

might generally believe that a relative is providing financial 

assistance, the relative may be withdrawing cash from joint 

bank accounts for personal use, using the elder's credit 

card to make unauthorized purchases, or embezzling 

money by refinancing the elder's home. This is the largest 

category of offenders, and, sadly, the abuse is often not 

discovered until after the elder's assets have been depleted. 

2. Professional caregivers. Home health aides offer invaluable 

assistance to seniors who need help to live independently. 

However, they sometimes abuse an elder's trust by 

intercepting and activating unsolicited credit cards in the 

elder's name; taking jewelry, cash, or other valuables; 

forging or altering checks for their own use; or tricking the 

elder into transferring titles and deeds to the caregiver. 

3. Close friends or others in a position of trust. This group can 

include neighbors, handymen, bank tellers, real estate 

agents, or investment advisors. In general, such offenders 

may encourage investments and expenditures that benefit 

only themselves, steal money or property, or arrange for 

changes to wills, trusts, or mortgage financing for their 

own benefit. 

Questions of consent or voluntary gift-giving make the 

investigation of potential abuse cases difficult. Gift-giving 

habits vary across families, as do cultural expectations 

regarding elderly care; thus it is essential that you examine 

each situation within the appropriate context.29 Further, 

you should examine any business relationship an elder may 

have in terms of the nature of the arrangement.30 For 

example, a relationship with a gardener or housekeeper 

may be based on a "good faith" exchange in which each 

party negotiates in his or her own self-interest (barring 
22 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

deception and misrepresentation). However, some business 

relationships, such as those with financial planners, 

bankers, or health care workers, require the professional to 

act in the elder's best interest. Sometimes, a "good faith" 

relationship evolves beyond the original intent (e.g., the 

housekeeper begins to help the elder with finances). These 

relationships become abusive when the perpetrator 

continues to act in a self-serving way, rather than make 

decisions based on the elder's best interest.31 

Regardless of the category of offender, there are two 

basic types.32 The first type includes dysfunctional people 

with low self-esteem who may be abusing substances, 

feeling stressed, or feeling the weight of their caregiver 

responsibilities. They do not generally seek out victims, 

but instead passively take advantage of opportunities that 

arise. The second type includes those who methodically 

target vulnerable seniors, establish power, and obtain 

control over their assets. 

Warning Signs and Indicators 

Crime prevention efforts have identified a number of 

warning signs and indicators of both consumer fraud and 

financial exploitation of the elderly. Because the means of 

committing the two types of crime are different, the signs 

and indicators are listed separately here. 

Warning signs of consumer fraud.33 These include the 

following: 

• stacks of unsolicited mail proclaiming the recipient to 

be a "guaranteed winner"; 

• unusual number of packages containing inexpensive 

costume jewelry, plastic cameras, watches, etc.; 

• excessive numbers of magazine subscriptions; 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 23 

• unsolicited phone calls from operators offering 

"fantastic opportunities" to claim prizes or invest; 

• difficulty covering basic expenses such as food, utilities, 

etc., when income should support these needs; 

• at the bank, accompaniment of the elder by a stranger 

who encourages a large withdrawal; and 

• checks and withdrawals for individuals, marketing 

companies, or other businesses, or transactions that the 

elder cannot explain. 

Indicators of financial abuse.34 These include the 

following: 

• A recent acquaintance expresses an interest in finances, 

promises to provide care, or ingratiates him- or herself 

with the elder. 

• A relative or caregiver has no visible means of support 

and is overly interested in the elder's financial affairs. 

• A relative or caregiver expresses concern over the cost 

of caring for the elder, or is reluctant to spend money 

for needed medical treatment. 

• The utility and other bills are not being paid. 

• The elder's placement, care, or possessions are 

inconsistent with the size of his or her estate. 

• A relative or caregiver isolates the elder, makes excuses 

when friends or family call or visit, and does not give 

the elder messages. 

• A relative or caregiver gives implausible explanations 

about finances, and the elder is unaware of or unable to 

explain the arrangements made. 

• Checking account and credit card statements are sent to 

a relative or caregiver and are not accessible to the 

elder. 

• At the bank, the elder is accompanied by a relative or 

caregiver who refuses to let the elder speak for him- or 

herself, and/or the elder appears nervous or afraid of 

the person accompanying him or her. 
24 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• The elder is concerned or confused about "missing 

money." 

• There are suspicious signatures on the elder's checks, or 

the elder signs checks and another party fills in the 

payee and amount sections. 

• There is an unusual amount of banking activity, 

particularly just after joint accounts are set up or 

someone new starts helping with the elder's finances. 

• A will, power of attorney, or other legal document is 

drafted, but the elder does not understand its 

implications. 

These warning signs and indicators have been 

incorporated into a variety of education tools targeting 

family members, banks, attorneys, and other concerned 

parties. These are discussed in the "Responses" section of 

this guide. 

Lack of Oversight of Legal Documents 

Given that legal documents such as trusts, joint bank 

accounts, and powers of attorney give a third party such 

enormous decision-making power, it is surprising that the 

preparation and execution of these documents is not more 

closely regulated. With regard to powers of attorney, very 

few states require them to be registered, few require a 

lawyer's involvement in drafting the document, and 

witnesses are not required to ensure the elder's signature is 

voluntary.35 Although most states require notaries, they are 

not trained to assess mental capacity and therefore cannot 

protect an impaired elder from abuse. No record of 

ongoing use is provided to the elder, so even fully 

competent seniors are not able to monitor transactions 

made on their accounts. Finally, few states have formal 

procedures for revoking the authority granted under power 

of attorney, which allows the offender to continue abusing 

this power even after intervention. 
The Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 25 

Laws and Agencies Involved 

Every state has adopted laws to prohibit particular types 

of fraud and, often, to enhance penalties for fraud against 

the elderly. Older consumers are, of course, protected by 

general consumer protection laws, telemarketing laws, and 

other statutes governing theft, embezzlement, fraud, etc. 

However, given that each state crafts its own laws, there 

are significant differences that make a description of 

national legislation concerning elder financial abuse 

impossible. These differences tend to apply in the 

following six areas:36 

1.definition of "elderly"; 

2.definition of abuse, whether physical abuse, sexual abuse, 

financial abuse, or neglect; 

3. classification of abuse as criminal or civil; 

4.standards for reporting abuse; 

5.methods for investigating abuse; and 

6.recommended sanctions. 

Not only do these differences make it difficult to describe 

the various legislative approaches, but they also make it 

difficult to investigate and prosecute fraud offenders who 

may have victimized people in several states, all of which 

have different statutory requirements. 

Further, fraud and financial abuse cases come under the 

jurisdiction of several agencies. Federal agencies such as 

the FBI, Postal Inspection Service, and Secret Service, as 

well as state and local police, may be involved in 

investigating large-scale consumer fraud operations. The 

lack of information-sharing across these agencies has been 

identified as a significant barrier to effective intervention.37 
26 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

When a financial crime involves the misuse or abuse of 

legal documents, the case may also be classified as a civil 

matter, requiring additional cooperation with the 

prosecutor and court of jurisdiction. Banks and phone 

companies are also critical partners in investigating fraud 

or financial exploitation. Finally, given that the senior's 

welfare is paramount, social service agencies, such as adult 

protective services and medical and mental health services, 

must also be included in a coordinated effort to protect 

the senior from further harm. 

Fraud and financial exploitation cases present a 

complicated web of behavior, intent, and consequences. 

The scope of jurisdiction and various areas of expertise 

required are unlikely to be found in any one agency, 

requiring cooperation across traditional jurisdictions and 

professional boundaries. 
Understanding Your Local Problem 27 

Understanding Your Local Problem 

The information provided above is only a generalized 

description of financial crimes against the elderly. You 

must combine the basic facts with a more specific 

understanding of your local problem. Analyzing the local 

problem carefully will help you design a more effective 

response strategy. 

Most likely, there will be a combination of frauds 

committed by strangers and financial exploitation by 

relatives and caregivers. You should analyze the factors 

surrounding these two crimes separately, since they are 

different in nature. Further, although developing profiles 

or combined data on the crimes (e.g., average amount of 

money lost, average age of victim, etc.) can be useful, 

these averages can mask important variations and may lead 

to generalized responses that fail to combat a particular 

type of fraud or exploitation. 

In the case of consumer fraud, it is likely that a few 

different types will be occurring in your community at any 

given time. It is important to identify the types of fraud 

currently operating, the likely targets, the means used to 

commit the fraud, and the factors that may prevent victims 

from reporting it. Given that a significant number of 

seniors have likely resisted a variety of fraudulent sales 

pitches, it will be useful to identify the strategies they used 

to avoid being victimized. 

In the case of financial exploitation, it is important to 

understand how offenders gain access to the victims' 

funds, what the nature of the offender-victim relationship 
28 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

is, and what resources are available to support and protect 

the elderly. Interviews with professionals who have 

observed various financial transactions will help to identify 

areas in which procedural safeguards could be employed. 

Although fraud and financial exploitation cases have some 

similarities, the situations facilitating the crime will vary 

considerably. In addition, the fact that many cases go 

unreported means that official police and prosecutor 

records will not include the details necessary for a 

comprehensive problem analysis. Therefore, it is important 

to gather information about the local problem from 

multiple sources and perspectives, including: 

• official police and prosecutor records; 

• computer-generated maps of reported fraud incidents; 

• victims and concerned friends and family members; 

• seniors not previously identified as victims; 

• local advocates for the elderly; 

• adult protective services workers; 

• fraud and financial crimes investigators; 

• bankers, attorneys, and accountants; and 

• perpetrators of fraud and financial exploitation. 

Asking the Right Questions 

The following are some critical questions you should ask 

when analyzing your particular problem of financial 

crimes against the elderly, even if the answers are not 

readily available. The questions are listed separately for 

fraud and for financial exploitation. Your answers to these 

and other questions will help you choose the most 

appropriate set of responses later on. 
Understanding Y our Local Problem 29 

Fraud: Victims 

• What are the victims' characteristics? Do they typically 

live alone? Are they homeowners? Are they home 

during the day? Is there any evidence of diminished 

mental or physical capacity? 

• How exposed to fraud are they? Do they routinely enter 

contests and sweepstakes? What other marketing 

efforts are they exposed to? How often do salespeople 

contact them by phone? By mail? In person? 

• What factors influence the decision to buy goods or 

services? Particular characteristics of the salesperson or 

the pitch? Need for the good or service offered? Fears 

about their financial situation, health, or long-term 

care? 

• How did they report the crime? What factors influenced 

them to do so? What factors could have deterred them 

from reporting? 

Fraud: Persons Who Avoid Victimization 

• What are the characteristics of persons who avoid 

victimization? Do they typically live alone? Are they 

homeowners? Are they home during the day? 

• How often are they exposed to marketing efforts by 

phone? By mail? In person? Have they done anything to 

decrease their exposure to these efforts? 

• What do they do to stop unwanted sales offers? 

• Do they routinely discuss their purchases or financial 

matters with anyone? How aware are they of various 

types of fraud? Do they know how to research 

products or offers before buying? 

• Do they suspect they have ever been a victim of fraud, 

even though they did not report it? What deterred them 

from reporting? What would encourage them to report 

a fraud in the future? 
30 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Fraud: Offenders 

• What are the offenders' characteristics? Do they usually 

work alone, or in groups? How do they identify 

potential partners? 

• How do they develop the frauds? Do they use a variety 

of means, or do they stick to a particular method (e.g., 

mail, phone, in person)? Do they specialize in a 

particular kind of fraud, or commit a variety of them? 

• How do they identify potential victims? How are 

"mooch lists" developed? From where are they 

purchased? 

• What motivates them? Money? Power? A sense of 

importance? 

Fraud: Incidents 

• What types of frauds are most frequently reported? Are 

there similarities in the types of frauds that typically go 

unreported? 

• Where are the frauds occurring? Are they clustered in 

specific neighborhoods or geographic areas? Are the 

victims similar? 

• What method is used (e.g., mail, phone, in person)? Is 

there evidence that the offenders work from another 

jurisdiction? 

• What tactics are used to avoid detection? Time 

pressure? Secrecy? False address? Use of a courier? 

Financial Exploitation: Victims 

• What are the victims' characteristics? Do they live 

alone? Do they have regular contact with nonabusive 

family or friends? Is there evidence of diminished 

mental or physical capacity? 
Understanding Y our Local Problem 31 

• What is the victim-offender relationship? Elder and 

relative? Elder and caregiver? What are the 

relationship's positive aspects? Companionship? 

Promise of long-term care? Fulfillment of family 

obligations? Of cultural expectations? 

• When did the victim become aware of the exploitation? 

How was the incident reported? What factors 

encouraged reporting? What factors discouraged 

reporting? To what extent were friends or family 

involved in discovering and reporting the incident? 

Financial Exploitation: Offenders 

• What are the offenders' characteristics? Do they work 

alone, or in groups? Do they have a history of 

exploiting others? How does the caregiving relationship 

start? Does the offender volunteer? Is the offender 

hired through an agency? 

• What motivates offenders? Money? Power? Feelings of 

entitlement? Concerns about inheritance? 

• How do offenders get victims to comply? Isolation? 

Promises? Undue influence? Coercion? Theft? 

Financial Exploitation: Incidents 

• What are the primary means used to commit the crime? 

Joint accounts? Legal documents such as wills, deeds, 

trusts, powers of attorney? 

• What professionals are involved in the transactions? 

Bank tellers? Attorneys? Accountants? How may they 

unwittingly facilitate the crime? 
32 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Measuring Your Effectiveness 

Measurement allows you to determine to what degree your 

efforts have succeeded, and suggests how you might 

modify your responses if they are not producing the 

intended results. You should take measures of your 

problem before you implement responses, to determine how 

serious the problem is, and after you implement them, to 

determine whether they have been effective. All measures 

should be taken in both the target area and the 

surrounding area. (For more detailed guidance on 

measuring effectiveness, see the companion guide to this 

series, Assessing Responses to Problems: An Introductory Guide 

for Police Problem-Solvers.) 

The following are potentially useful measures of the 

effectiveness of responses to financial crimes against the 

elderly. As with the previous sections, the two main types, 

fraud and financial exploitation, are discussed separately. 

Further, distinctions are made between "process" 

measures, which indicate the extent to which responses are 

being implemented as designed, and "outcome" measures, 

which indicate the impact the responses have on the level 

of the problem. 

Fraud 

You can use the following "process" measures to identify 

the extent to which selected responses have been 

implemented as designed. Given the extent of 

underreporting and its impact on understanding the scope 

of the problem, a corollary evaluation goal may be to 

assess the success with which reporting mechanisms are 

used: 
Understanding Your Local Problem 33 

• increases in the number of seniors who are aware of 

current frauds and have been trained how to stop 

unwanted sales efforts; 

• increases in the number of arrests, prosecutions, and 

convictions of operators of fraudulent marketing 

schemes; 

• increases in the use of consumer protection resources 

to investigate the legitimacy of offers or businesses; 

and 

• increases in the use of mechanisms to report attempted 

or successful frauds. 

You can use the following "outcome" measures to 

determine the impact of your responses on the level of 

the problem: 

• decreases in the dollar amounts lost by elders to 

consumer fraud; 

• decreases in the number of elders defrauded via mail, 

telephone, or in-person scams; and 

• decreases in the number of elders who are revictimized 

by "recovery room" operations. 

Financial Exploitation 

You can use the following "process" measures to identify 

the extent to which selected responses have been 

implemented as designed: 

• increases in the number of professionals (e.g., bankers, 

doctors, lawyers, accountants) trained to identify the 

warning signs of financial exploitation; 

• increases in the number of reports of financial 

exploitation shared across agencies (e.g., police, 

prosecutors, adult protective services); 
34 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• increases in the number of elders proactively protecting 

their financial assets; and 

• increases in the number of offenders arrested, 

prosecuted, and convicted for financial exploitation of 

elders. 

You can use the following "outcome" measures to 

determine the impact of your responses on the level of 

the problem: 

• decreases in the dollar amounts lost by elders via 

financial exploitation; and 

• decreases in the number of elders who are financially 

exploited by relatives or caregivers. 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 35 

Responses to the Problem of Financial 

Crimes Against the Elderly 

Your analysis of your local problem should give you a 

better understanding of the factors contributing to it. 

Once you have analyzed your local problem and 

established a baseline for measuring effectiveness, you 

should consider possible responses to address the 

problem. 

The following response strategies provide a foundation of 

ideas for addressing your particular problem. These 

strategies are drawn from a variety of research studies and 

police reports. Several of these strategies may apply to 

your community's problem. It is critical that you tailor 

responses to local circumstances, and that you can justify 

each response based on reliable analysis. In most cases, an 

effective strategy will involve implementing several 

different responses. Law enforcement responses alone are 

seldom effective in reducing or solving the problem. Do 

not limit yourself to considering what police can do: give 

careful consideration to who else in your community 

shares responsibility for the problem and can help police 

better respond to it. 
36 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

General Responses 

The responses that follow are useful for addressing the 

problems of both fraud and financial exploitation. 

Strategies targeting the specific elements of each type of 

financial crime are discussed separately below. 

1. Creating multiagency task forces. Elder fraud and 

financial exploitation cases are complex and require 

expertise in multiple areas, including: 

• law enforcement and investigation, 

• financial management, 

• insurance, 

• investments, 

• real estate, 

• probate law, 

• criminal law, 

• civil law, 

• mental capacity, and 

• social services for the elderly. 

It is unlikely that a single agency will have the necessary 

skills and resources for a multidisciplinary approach. Thus, 

multiagency efforts are required, should include agencies 

and individuals with knowledge in the key areas, and 

should be tailored to the characteristics of the local 

problem.† 

† In Canada, the Deceptive 

Telemarketing Prevention Forum 

included representatives from 

government, private, and nonprofit 

organizations to gather and share 

intelligence, formulate response 

strategies, and develop public education 

efforts. Participants included credit card 

companies, telephone companies, retired 

persons associations, marketing 

associations, police, bankers, the postal 

service, consumer groups, and the Better 

Business Bureau. For more information, 

see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 

website, www.phonebusters.com. 

In the United States, many state and 

local jurisdictions have developed area 

TRIADs, which are partnerships 

between local and state police agencies, 

sheriffs associations, and retired persons 

associations, such as the AARP. Some 

jurisdictions also include agencies on 

aging, senior centers, health 

departments, and adult protective 

services. 

A number of jurisdictions (e.g., Los 

Angeles; Orange County, Calif.; Ventura, 

Calif.) have also developed multiagency 

teams of specialists to investigate and 

intervene in elder fraud and financial 

exploitation cases. For example, 

Fiduciary Abuse Specialist Teams 

(FASTs) often include police, the district 

attorney, the city attorney, private 

conservatorship agencies, health and 

mental health providers, probate judges, 

trust attorneys, insurance agents, real 

estate agents, escrow officers, 

stockbrokers, and estate planners. The 

National Committee for the Prevention 

of Elder Abuse has created specific 

guidelines for establishing and 

coordinating a local FAST, which can be 

accessed at 

www.preventelderabuse.org/communitie 

s/fast.html. For more information, see 

also Allen (2000); Aziz (2000); and 

Velasco (2000). 

2.Working across jurisdictions. Because both the victims 

and the offenders may live in and operate out of several 

jurisdictions, information-sharing among various law 

enforcement agencies is critical to building a solid case. A 

variety of federal, state, and local law enforcement 

agencies may need to be involved. Further, because 

financial exploitation often occurs in concert with other 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 37 

crimes, such as assault, neglect, and false imprisonment,
 

multiple units within a given police agency may need to be
 

involved.
 

3.Improving reporting mechanisms. It is widely agreed 

that underreporting dramatically skews available data on 

the prevalence of financial crimes against the elderly. The 

reasons for underreporting were discussed previously, but 

you should pay attention to the specific barriers to 

reporting in your jurisdiction. Accurate descriptions of the 

local problem depend on better information about the 

type, frequency, and characteristics of various frauds. 

Creating easy-to-access reporting mechanisms for victims,
 

concerned family and friends, and professionals will help
 

not only with identifying problems, but also with
 

developing effective responses. Perhaps most importantly,
 

improved reporting mechanisms will help in prosecuting
 

offenders and providing needed victim services. Education
 

campaigns should provide telephone numbers for
 

reporting incidents of victimization. It is also useful to
 

include a short description of what the elder can expect to
 

be asked, what the typical response time is, and what the
 

procedures are.
 

Once a multiagency effort is established, it is important to
 

create clear and efficient pathways for cross-agency
 

reporting for police, adult protective services, and other
 

agencies. Because each agency serves a different need, it is
 

critical that each agency be deployed to offer relevant
 

services to victims. Cross-agency reporting procedures
 

should ensure that each agency mobilizes its resources
 

without impeding other agencies' work.
 
38 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

4.Training police to interview elderly victims of 

financial crimes. Once the problem of underreporting 

has been tackled, intervention with offenders depends on 

the quality of information investigators can get from 

victims. There are two key areas in which focused training 

efforts are required: interviewing elderly victims, and 

investigating financial crimes. 

First, although certainly not the case for all seniors, many 

elderly victims have physical, sensory, memory, or other 

cognitive impairments that can interfere with an officer's 

attempt to gather information. It is therefore critical that 

officers are trained to identify such impairments and to 

respond with effective interviewing techniques.† Improving 

officers' skills with elderly victims has been shown to 

improve the quality of investigations and to positively 

affect victims' subsequent attitudes, behaviors, and 

perceptions toward the police.38 

† The Office for Victims of Crime 

published a handbook for law 

enforcement officers that includes 

specific techniques for interviewing 

elderly victims and witnesses. It is 

available at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications 

/infores/firstrep/2001/welcome.ht 

ml; see also National White Collar 

Crime Center (1998); Shibley (1995); 

Kohl, Brensilber, and Holmes 

(1995); and Forst (2000). 

Second, given the complexity of fraud and financial 

exploitation cases, investigators need to cover all of the 

relevant domains of inquiry. These should include victim 

characteristics (e.g., relationship to the offender, mental 

capacity, etc.), offense characteristics (e.g., telemarketing 

scam versus financial exploitation by a caregiver), and 

offender characteristics (e.g., relationship, frequency of 

contact), as well as detailed information about the elder's 

estate, financial arrangements, and relevant legal 

documents. Several investigation checklists are available to 

guide the development of a comprehensive inquiry.39 

5.Decreasing victims' isolation. Seniors who are isolated 

and have little contact with family, friends, caseworkers, 

and other concerned parties may be at increased risk of 

being victimized by fraudulent businesses. Decreasing this 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 39 

isolation through police welfare checks, neighborhood
 

watches, and in-person outreach efforts can help to ensure
 

that elders are aware of available resources they can turn
 

to with questions and concerns about potential 

scammers.40 Further, ongoing contact with family members 

can provide the means for ongoing monitoring of the
 

elder's financial matters. The U.S. Postal Service has
 

created a list of warning signs and various preventative
 

measures for family and friends of seniors.†
 

† The list is available at
 

www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fra 

ud/seniorwk.htm.
 

Live-in caregivers who exploit seniors often isolate them to
 

avoid being detected. Periodic contact by family, friends,
 

and other concerned parties improves the likelihood of
 

early detection.
 

Adopt-a-Senior programs–in which volunteers regularly
 

check on the well-being of seniors in their neighborhoods
 

and inquire about unusual mail, phone calls, and financial
 

transactions–have been effective in combating the isolation
 

that places the elderly at risk, and in identifying potentially
 

abusive situations.41
 

The strategies above apply broadly to both fraud and
 

financial exploitation of the elderly. However, given that
 

these two types of crime are different in several important
 

ways, there are several responses that are more relevant to
 

one type of crime than to the other.
 

Specific Responses: Fraud 

6.Educating seniors and other concerned parties. 

Although not effective as a stand-alone strategy, when 

used as part of a multifaceted response, outreach efforts 

should educate seniors about 
40 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• types of scams operating in the area; 

• how to screen calls using caller-identification devices 

and answering machines; 

• suspicious behaviors and warning signs of fraudulent 

offers;42 

• how to reduce unwanted solicitations by removing 

home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses 

from marketing and junk mail lists;† 

• how to investigate offers and potential purchases;†† 

• how to select qualified and reputable contractors; 

• how to end unwanted sales calls;43 and 

• how to report fraud. 

† The Direct Marketing Association 

provides clear procedures for 

removing personal information from 

national and state marketing lists, 

available at 

www.dmaconsumers.org/consumera 

ssistance.html#mail and www.thedma.org/government/donotcalllists. 

shtml. 

†† The AARP provides a concise 

list of "Do's and Don'ts," a review 

of relevant statutes, and tactics for 

preventing fraud, available at 

www.aarp.org/fraud/home.htm. 

Warning Signs of Fraudulent Offers 

• A promise that you can win, make, or borrow money easily. 

• A demand that you act immediately or else miss out on a great opportunity. 

• A refusal to send you written information before you agree to buy or donate. 

• An attempt to scare you into buying something. 

• An insistence that you wire money or have a courier pick up your payment. 

• A refusal to stop calling after you have asked not to be called again. 

Source: National Fraud Information Center (n.d.). 

Some jurisdictions have found it useful to present these 

topics in concert with financial planning workshops. In 

addition, television stations can be useful partners in this 

endeavor. Many local stations assign reporters to 

consumer fraud issues and regularly air segments on the 

problem. Reports about local scams and general 

prevention measures have the potential to reach a large 

audience. 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 41 

The Pitch and the Law: Typical Offers by Telemarketers, 

and How They Violate the Law 

The Pitch The Details The Law 

"You are eligible to win a 

valuable prize!" 

"You can win a car worth 

$35,000; $10,000 in cash; a 

European vacation; or a diamond 

necklace worth $2,000. Your 

purchase today of our fabulous 

vitamins will automatically enter

you into this amazing 

sweepstakes." 

A prize is free. You need not pay any money 

or buy anything to enter a sweepstakes or win a 

prize. The caller must tell you the "no-payment, 

no-purchase" method of entering. If the caller 

says you have already won a prize, the caller 

must also tell you all the costs associated with 

claiming it. This is important because the costs 

may be high and may substantially reduce the 

prize's value. 

"We can get your money 

back!" 

"I was sorry to hear that you lost 

money in a telemarketing scam.

It's really a shame that people will

call you offering you a great deal 

and then steal your money. But 

my company will get your money 

back for you. All you have to do 

is give me your credit card 

number to cover our low service 

charge." 

You do not have to pay in advance. These 

so-called "recovery rooms" are just a way to 

take advantage of you a second time. A caller 

who promises to recover or help you get back 

money you lost, or to obtain an item of value 

you were promised in a prior telemarketing call, 

cannot ask for or receive money from you until 

seven business days after you actually receive 

the promised money or item. 

"Great loans at great 

rates. Bad credit, no 

problem!" 

"Today is your lucky day. I'm 

going to help you qualify for the 

loan you never thought you'd get. 

For only a small fee, I will get 

those late payments removed 

from your credit records. I'll send 

a courier to pick up your 

payment, because the sooner you 

pay the fee, the sooner I can get 

started." 

You need not pay until you see proof that 

your credit record has been fixed. A caller is 

prohibited from asking for payment to remove 

negative information, or otherwise improve 

your credit report, until after 1) the period for 

providing you with all promised goods and 

services has expired; and 2) you receive 

documentation that the promised results have 

been achieved, in the form of a report from a 

credit reporting agency issued more than six

months after the promised results were 

achieved. Remember that you can, on your own 

and at no cost, get inaccurate negative 

information removed from your credit report. 

"Magazines at fantastic 

low prices. Give me your 

bank account number, 

and they're in the mail!" 

"We've extended this amazing

offer one more day, and we have 

to receive your money by 

midnight tonight. But don't

worry-you can meet the deadline. 

Just give me your bank account 

number, and I can process your 

order right away." 

Callers must get specific authorization from 

you to take money from your bank account. 

The caller must get your written authorization 

or tape record your verbal authorization to 

withdraw a specified amount from your 

account, or send you a written confirmation of 

the transaction before attempting to withdraw 

money from your account. The caller must 

provide the written or taped authorization to

the bank upon request. 

Source: American Association of Retired Persons (n.d.), "Telemarketing Fraud." 
42 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

7.Identifying high-risk seniors. Research has shown that 

offenders often repeatedly target past fraud victims using 

"mooch lists" and recovery room scams. Identifying 

seniors by risk level helps to target intervention efforts 

appropriately.44 High-risk seniors are those whom police, 

prosecutors, postal inspectors, or other agency personnel 

have identified as previous victims. Volunteers are 

dispatched to help the seniors prevent future victimization. 

They offer ongoing, in-person contact, providing not only 

emotional and moral support, but also tangible tools for 

combating fraud, such as reviewing daily activities, sorting 

through the mail, and evaluating telemarketing offers. 

8.Reversing the "boiler room." These large-scale 

operations mail out postcards offering a free and 

guaranteed prize to the recipients. Those who respond to 

the telephone number listed receive detailed information 

on sweepstakes fraud and how to protect themselves. 

Working with senior volunteers, the U.S. Postal Service, 

consumer protection groups, and others, police may staff 

the hotlines and provide the information. Similarly, 

"reverse telethons" use operators with expertise in various 

types of fraud to answer callers' questions. Task forces 

established to combat the local elder fraud problem 

publicize, schedule, and recruit experts to offer advice to 

seniors, their families, and other concerned parties.† 

† For more information, see Aziz et	 

al. (2000); Chatelin (1994); and U.S. 

Department of Justice, Office of	 

Justice Programs (2000).	 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 43 

Escape Mechanisms for Unwanted Sales Calls 

• Refuse to communicate 

Leave the scene 

Do not respond to mail solicitation 

Hang up the phone 

• Refuse the offer for the moment 

Indicate you will think about it and seek a second opinion 

Request written information about the offer 

Deny having the financial means to accept the offer 

Indicate you will verify the legitimacy of the business before accepting 

• Refuse the offer categorically 

Indicate knowledge that the offer is a scam 

Refuse to supply personal information 

Refuse to pay fees, deny any charges 

Threaten to contact the authorities 

Simply refuse 

• Take steps to avoid losing money after a suspicious offer/contact 

Stop payment, cancel the order 

Contact the authorities to have the money returned 

Contact the authorities to alert them about illegal activities 

Source: Adapted from Friedman (1998). 

9. Making it easier for people to hang up on telephone 

scams. Studies have shown that many people have 

difficulty hanging up on telemarketers, even after they have 

decided they are not interested in the product or service 

being sold. An "Easy Hang Up" device has been used to 

help seniors end calls without fearing they are being rude 

or abrupt. Once the senior decides the call is unwanted, he 

or she presses an activation button, and a short recorded 

message is played, such as "I'm sorry, this number does 

not accept this type of call. Please regard this as your 

notification to remove this number from your list. Thank 

you." The call is then disconnected.† 

† For more information, see Kaye 

and Darling (2000). 
44 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

10. Launching undercover operations. Although timeconsuming and expensive, there have been several largescale undercover operations to dismantle fraudulent 

telemarketing organizations.† A key telemarketer 

vulnerability is the inability to be certain of whom they 

have called. In these operations, police officers and 

volunteers had their names added to "mooch lists" and 

posed as potential victims of telemarketing scams. 

Fraudulent organizations contacted them repeatedly, and 

the conversations were recorded and used as evidence. 

Such operations are usually conducted as collaborative 

efforts between federal, state, and local law enforcement, 

the AARP, and other senior advocacy organizations.†† 

† The FBI's Operation Disconnect, 

Operation Senior Sentinel, and 

Operation Double Barrel have 

resulted in thousands of indictments 

and the recovery of thousands of 

dollars. See also U.S. Department of 

Justice, Office of Justice Programs 

(2000). 

†† For more information, see 

Slotter (1998). 

Specific Responses: Financial Exploitation 

As discussed previously, the characteristics, warning signs, 

and perpetrators of financial exploitation differ 

significantly from those of fraud. While some of the 

methods may be similar, preventing financial exploitation 

by relatives and caregivers requires specific responses. 

11. Enacting proactive health care, legal, and financial 

planning. The best defense is a good offense. Programs 

to help people make health care and financial 

arrangements before they are necessary ensure that these 

decisions are made thoughtfully and with the person's 

voluntary and informed consent. Financial arrangements 

can vary from direct deposit of pension and social 

security checks and automatic payment of utility bills, to 

estate planning and the creation of powers of attorney. 

Professional help with such planning can be offered as 

part of community outreach activities implemented by a 

multidisciplinary team. 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 45 

12. Assessing statutes related to power of attorney. 

Although power of attorney is a common tool that serves 

an important and legitimate purpose for many seniors, it 

is also vulnerable to abuse. Specific regulations governing 

powers of attorney vary by state. Reviewing existing 

legislation and assessing current provisions for 

establishing, auditing, modifying, and canceling power of 

attorney are an important part of assessing the local 

problem. If existing statutes are vulnerable to abuse, 

consider lobbying for the addition of protective 

safeguards. 

13. Screening caregivers. Many states do not require inhome caregivers to undergo criminal background checks. 

By implementing such measures, people with a history of 

physical or financial abuse or neglect could be prevented 

from working as licensed caregivers. However, this 

strategy would affect only those caregivers hired through 

licensed agencies, and would not apply to informal 

caregiving arrangements. 

14. Training police and professionals involved in elders' 

affairs. Police should be trained in the specific elements 

of fraud and financial exploitation. Further, reports from 

victims and other concerned parties are likely to be 

complex and may be confusing to both dispatchers and 

responding officers. Training for these individuals should 

focus on proper procedures for referring cases for 

investigation, and on ensuring that complainants 

understand how the case will be handled. 

Because of their ongoing involvement in elders' financial
 

affairs, banks and other financial institutions are uniquely
 

positioned to help prevent and detect financial
 

exploitation, and are therefore an essential partner in
 

combating the problem. Several states have developed
 
46 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

and implemented training curricula for bank tellers to 

recognize the warning signs of abuse, and these curricula 

are widely available for replication or adaptation.45 

Similarly, attorneys and certified public accountants who 

prepare wills, tax returns, estate planning documents, and 

other legal documents are uniquely suited to serve as an 

early warning system to prevent financial exploitation. 

Particularly if trained to identify the warning signs of 

undue influence and diminished mental capacity, 

attorneys and accountants can work with a 

multidisciplinary team to make sure that all legal 

documents are executed with the elder's voluntary and 

informed consent, and will serve the elder's best 

interest.46 

Focused training can encourage doctors to ask specific 

questions when assessing elders' physical and emotional 

well-being. During private consultations, doctors can 

explore the quality of elders' interactions with caregivers, 

increasing the likelihood of detecting financial 

exploitation.47 

Responses With Limited Effectiveness 

15. Disseminating information as a stand-alone strategy. 

Traditional approaches focused on raising public 

awareness have had limited success when used alone. 

Particularly when targeting elders with significant mental 

impairment, those who are isolated, and those who are in 

desperate financial situations, public information 

campaigns alone are insufficient for preventing financial 

abuse. Further, information campaigns that rely solely on 

the distribution of information (e.g., fliers, pamphlets) 

and do not feature any in-person interaction are among 

the least effective strategies for preventing crime. 
Responses to the Problem of Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 47 

16. Enacting mandatory reporting laws. Although they 

have shown some success in preventing and responding 

to child abuse, mandatory reporting laws have not been 

shown effective in preventing, identifying, or addressing 

financial abuse of the elderly. Training curricula generally 

include only the reporting requirements, and do not help 

officers to detect abuse or provide responsive services; in 

addition, sufficient resources are not allocated for quality 

investigations of all reports made.48 

17. Bonding or registering telemarketers. Although 

bonding and registration are often suggested to prevent 

fraud, there is no empirical research validating the 

effectiveness of such provisions. While legitimate 

businesses are likely to comply with such requirements, 

fraudulent organizations are not likely to be deterred by 

them. Further, it is unlikely that the average consumer 

would know to ask about bonding or registration, or that 

a fraudulent salesperson would tell the truth if asked 

about the company's compliance. In one jurisdiction, 

researchers discovered that fraudulent organizations 

found the registration requirement helpful, as being able 

to tell victims they were registered with the state brought 

a false air of legitimacy.49 

18. Expanding existing statutes. In the literature, there are 

many references to the need to expand the scope of 

existing statutes to promote the prosecution of financial 

crimes against the elderly, and to enhance applicable 

penalties. While enhanced sentences may offer some 

benefit in terms of specific deterrence, there is no 

empirical research indicating that such statutes result in 

increased prosecution rates. Further, such statutes have 

not been shown to have a general deterrent effect.50 
48 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

However, there is some evidence that requiring restitution 

for elderly fraud victims, and improving efforts to 

enforce restitution orders, can ease the harm suffered by 

the victim.51 
Appendix 49 

Appendix: Summary of Responses to 

Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

The table below summarizes the responses to financial 

crimes against the elderly, the mechanism by which they 

are intended to work, the conditions under which they 

ought to work best, and some factors you should consider 

before implementing a particular response. It is critical 

that you tailor responses to local circumstances, and that 

you can justify each response based on reliable analysis. In 

most cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing 

several different responses. Law enforcement responses 

alone are seldom effective in reducing or solving the 

problem. 

Response 

No. 

Page No. Response How It Works Works Best If... Considerations 

General Responses 

1. 36 Creating

multiagency task 

forces 

Provides a range 

of expertise in 

critical areas 

...formed as a 

collaborative 

partnership

between public, 

private, and 

nonprofit

agencies 

As a stand-alone 

strategy, not likely

to directly impact

the scope or level 

of the problem 

2. 36 Working across

jurisdictions 

Creates the 

ability to build

cases against 

highly mobile

offenders; 

incorporates 

expertise in areas 

of co-occurring 

crimes 

...created 

through formal 

interagency 

agreements with 

clear and specific

protocols for

line-level officers 

Relationships

require

maintenance; 

need clear 

indications of the 

lead agency in

specific cases;

potential for

"turf" issues to 

reduce efficacy 
50 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Response 

No. 

Page No. Response How It 

Works 

Works 

Best If... 

Considerations 

3. 37 Improving 

reporting 

mechanisms 

Improves the 

quality of the 

data available to 

assess the scope

of the local 

problem; creates 

the ability to

provide services 

to avoid repeat

victimization 

...clear 

directions for 

reporting are

widely

publicized;

specific

protocols for 

agency crossreporting are 

developed 

Rate of reported 

crimes will increase; 

potential for one

agency to interfere

with the activities 

of another working

the same case 

4. 38 Training police to

interview elderly

victims of 

financial crimes 

Increases the 

quality of

investigations; 

increases 

sensitivity to

victims' needs 

...ongoing

training is

available; barriers 

to accessing

information held 

by other agencies 

are removed up 

front 

Requires long-term 

commitment to 

training; requires

obtaining access to

information that is 

traditionally not

quickly available to 

police 

5. 38 Decreasing

victims' isolation 

Improves the 

ability to support 

and monitor 

financial 

decisions by atrisk seniors; 

improves the 

chances of early 

detection 

...contact is 

ongoing and in 

person; contacts 

are 

knowledgeable 

about warning 

signs 

Requires long-term 

commitment 

Specific Responses: Fraud 

6. 39 Educating seniors

and other 

concerned parties 

Makes it more 

difficult for 

frauds to 

succeed 

...the curriculum 

includes specific

strategies for

identifying

frauds as they

are occurring, 

and techniques

for ending

unwanted 

interactions 

Difficult to access 

seniors who are 

isolated, are 

disabled, or have 

diminished mental 

capacity (high-risk

groups); requires

practice and

ongoing

compliance from

the recipient 
Appendix 51 

Response 

No. 

Page No. Response How It 

Works 

Works 

Best If... 

Considerations 

7. 42 Identifying highrisk seniors Decreases the 

likelihood of 

repeat

victimization 

...services include 

individualized 

attention to highrisk behaviors 

Individualized 

nature of the 

intervention can be 

time-and costintensive 

8. 42 Reversing the

"boiler room" 

Effectively

identifies those 

likely to be open

to fraudulent 

sales pitches 

...prevention 

information is 

delivered in a way

that meets elders' 

need for 

interaction, rather 

than relying on

recordings 

Expensive; less 

effective without 

personal interaction

and without 

individualized, 

concrete strategies

for minimizing

high-risk behaviors 

9. 43 Making it easier

for victims to 

hang up on

telephone scams 

Decreases 

exposure to

fraudulent 

pitches; reduces 

temptation 

...exposure is

primarily via

telemarketing calls 

Expensive; does not 

address other sales 

approaches (mail, in 

person) 

10. 44 Launching

undercover 

operations 

Increases 

offenders' risk of 

arrest and 

prosecution 

...launched as a 

multiagency 

effort; undercover 

victim strategy is 

coupled with

infiltration of the 

organization itself 

Expensive; requires

long-term 

commitment; 

complex and

competing interests 

Specific Responses: Financial Exploitation 

11. 44 Enacting

proactive health 

care, legal, and 

financial planning 

Makes it more 

difficult to access 

elders' assets 

...done early, 

before any

cognitive 

deterioration; 

attorneys and

financial experts 

guide the 

arrangements 

Does not guarantee

long-term security 

of assets 
52 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Response 

No. 

Page No. Response How It 

Works 

Works 

Best If... 

Considerations 

12. 45 Assessing statutes

related to power 

of attorney 

Decreases 

vulnerability to

abuse 

...the review is 

accompanied by

new procedural

safeguards 

Legislative changes 

require long-term 

commitment; 

impact limited to

attempts to abuse

power of attorney 

13. 45 Screening

caregivers 

Prevents those 

with criminal 

records of 

abusing the

elderly from

continuing to do 

so 

...criminal 

records in 

multiple

jurisdictions can

be accessed 

Effectiveness is 

limited to those 

situations in which 

caregivers are hired 

through an agency;

will not impact

informal 

arrangements 

14. 45 Training police

and professionals

involved in elders' 

affairs 

Increases 

possibilities for

early detection 

...there are 

ongoing working

relationships

between police

and the 

professionals; a 

specific officer is

identified for 

future inquiries 

May still require a

mental health 

professional to

determine the 

capacity for 

consent; 

assessments are 

expensive 

Responses With Limited Effectiveness 

15. 46 Disseminating

information as a 

stand-alone 

strategy 

Provides access to 

information on 

current frauds 

and methods to 

decrease personal

risk 

...recipients

follow the advice 

Difficult to target 

elders at highest

risk; fails to meet 

needs for 

interaction; cannot 

be individualized 

16. 47 Enacting

mandatory 

reporting laws 

Increases the 

likelihood that 

crimes will be 

reported 

...mandated 

reporters know 

how to detect 

abuse and 

understand the 

protocol for

reporting; 

investigating 

agencies are 

sufficiently

funded to 

respond to all 

reports 

Lack of followthrough tends to

erode confidence in 

the system 
Response 

No. 

Page No. Response How It 

Works 

Works 

Best If... 

Considerations 

17. 47 Bonding or

registering

telemarketers 

Requires

telemarketing

operations to

provide assurance 

of legitimacy and 

good-faith 

intentions 

...telemarketers 

agree to follow all 

rules and 

regulations 

Requires buy-in

from offenders; 

provides false sense 

of good intentions; 

most consumers do 

not know to ask 

about bonding or

registration 

18. 47 Expanding

existing statutes 

Provides 

enhanced 

penalties for

crimes targeting 

the elderly;

reduces rewards 

...offenders are 

caught; restitution 

is ordered and 

enforced 

No general 

deterrence effect; 

does not help

prevention efforts 

Appendix 53 

Endnotes 55 

Endnotes 

1	 Titus (1999). 

2	 Rosenfield (1994). 

3	 Ward-Hall (1999); Hafemeister (2003). 

4	 Hafemeister (2003). 

5	 American Association of Retired Persons (1999); Titus, Heinzelmann, and Boyle 

(1995). 

6	 U.S. Senate (2000). 

7	 O'Hanlon (1997). 

8	 National Center on Elder Abuse (1998). 

9	 Tueth (2000). 

10 California County Welfare Director's Association (1988); Shiferaw et al. (1994). 

11 Hafemeister (2003); Tueth (2000). 

12 Nerenberg (1999). 

13 American Association of Retired Persons (1996). 

14	 American Association of Retired Persons (1996); Langenderfer and Shimp (2001); 

Titus, Heinzelmann, and Boyle (1995); Van Wyk and Mason (2001); Choi, Kulick, 

and Mayer (1999). 

15 Van Wyk and Mason (2001). 

16 Lee and Geistfeld (1999). 

17 Titus and Gover (2001). 

18 Titus and Gover (2001). 

19 Titus and Gover (2001). 

20 Titus (1999). 

21	 National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (n.d.), "Mental Capacity, 

Consent, and Undue Influence"; National Committee for the Prevention of Elder 

Abuse (n.d.), "An Interview With Margaret Singer on Undue Influence"; Quinn 

(2000). 

22	 National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (n.d.), "An Interview With 

Margaret Singer on Undue Influence." 

23 Wilber and Reynolds (1996). 

24 Whitlock (1994); Doocy et al. (2001); Blum (1972). 

25 Blum (1972). 

26 Blum (1972), p.14. 
56 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

27 Slotter (1998). 

28 National Center on Elder Abuse (1998). 

29 Sanchez (1996). 

30 Wilber and Reynolds (1996). 

31 Wilber and Reynolds (1996). 

32 Tueth (2000). 

33 U.S. Postal Service (n.d.). 

34 Illinois State Triad (1998); Harshbarger and Ollivierre (1993); Price and Fox (1997). 

35 This section is adapted from Nerenberg (2000). 

36 Stiegel (1995), as cited in Payne (2000). 

37 Nerenberg (1999). 

38 Zevitz and Gurnack (1991). 

39 Nerenberg (1996); Illinois State Triad (1998). 

40 Payne (2002). 

41 Coker and Little (1997). 

42 National Fraud Information Center (n.d.); American Association of Retired Persons 

(n.d.). 

43 Friedman (1998). 

44 Oregon Department of Human Services (n.d.). 

45 Price and Fox (1997); Nerenberg (1996); Nassau County Police Department (1998). 

46 Rush and Lank (2000). 

47 Tueth (2000). 

48 Daniels et al. (1999); U.S. General Accounting Office (1991). 

49 Doocy et al. (2001). 

50 Hafemeister (2003). 

51 Deem (2000); National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (n.d.), 

"Restitution." 
References 57 

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Kaye, A., and G. Darling (2000). "Oregon's Efforts to 

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Langenderfer, J., and T. Shimp (2001). "Consumer 

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Lee, J., and L. Geistfeld (1999). "Elderly Consumers' 

Receptiveness to Telemarketing Fraud." Journal of Public 

Policy & Marketing 18(2):208–217. 
60 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Nassau County (N.Y.) Police Department (1998). "Fifth 

Precinct Problem-Oriented Policing Team." Submission 

for the 1998 Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in 

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National Center on Elder Abuse (1998). The National Elder 

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National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse 

(n.d.). "Guidelines for Establishing and Coordinating a 

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www.preventelderabuse.org/communities/fast.html 

(n.d.). "An Interview With Margaret Singer on 

Undue Influence." 

www.preventelderabuse.org/nexus/singer.html 

(n.d.). "An Interview With Martin Plone." 

www.preventelderabuse.org/nexus/plone.html 

(n.d.). "Mental Capacity, Consent, and Undue 

Influence." 

www.preventelderabuse.org/issues/capacity.html 

(n.d.). "Restitution." 

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Nerenberg, L. (2000). "Forgotten Victims of Financial 

Crime and Abuse: Facing the Challenge." Journal of 

Elder Abuse & Neglect 12(2):49–73. 

(1999). Forgotten Victims of Elder Financial Crime and
 

Abuse: A Report and Recommendations. Washington, D.C.:
 

National Center on Elder Abuse.
 

(1996). Financial Abuse of the Elderly. Washington,
 

D.C.: National Center on Elder Abuse.
 

O'Hanlon, K. (1997). "Let the Pesky Telemarketers Down 

Easy." Los Angeles Times, Oct. 6, p. ED7. 

Oregon Department of Health Services (n.d.). 

"Governor's Task Force on the Future of Services to 

Seniors and People With Disabilities." 

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Payne, B. (2002). "An Integrated Understanding of Elder 

Abuse and Neglect." Journal of Criminal Justice 

30(6):535–547. 

(2000). Crime and Elder Abuse: An Integrated
 

Perspective. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas.
 

Price, G., and C. Fox (1997). "The Massachusetts Bank 

Reporting Project: An Edge Against Elder Financial 

Exploitation." Journal of Elder Abuse & Neglect 

8(4):59–71. 

Quinn, M. (2000). "Undoing Undue Influence." Journal of 

Elder Abuse & Neglect 12(2):9–17. 

Rosenfield, J. (1994). "In the Mail." Direct Marketing 

57(8):32–35. 
62 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (n.d.). "Frauds, Scams 

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Rush, R., and R. Lank (2000). "How to Thwart Financial 

Fraud of the Elderly Client or Parent." The Wisconsin 

CPA (June):12–13. 

Sanchez, Y. (1996). "Distinguishing Cultural Expectations 

in Assessment of Financial Exploitation." Journal of 

Elder Abuse & Neglect 8(2):49–59. 

Schulte, F. (1995). Fleeced! Telemarketing Rip-Offs and How to 

Avoid Them. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. 

Shibley, G. (1995). "Teaching Officers to Serve Seniors." 

FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 64(1):23–26. 

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Walls, and B. Rohrer. (1994). "The Investigation and 

Outcome of Reported Cases of Elder Abuse: The 

Forsyth County Aging Study." Gerontologist 34:123–125. 

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the Crimes They Perpetrate." Journal of Elder Abuse & 

Neglect 12(2):19–32. 

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Law Enforcement Bulletin 67(3):9–17. 

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presented at the Restoration for Victims of Crime 

Conference. Melbourne, September. 

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Victims and the Scams." In G. Farrell and K. Pease 

(eds.), Repeat Victimization, Crime Prevention Studies, 

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Titus, R., F. Heinzelmann, and J. Boyle (1995). 

"Victimization of Persons by Fraud." Crime and 

Delinquency 41(1):54–72. 

Tueth, M. (2000). "Exposing Financial Exploitation of 

Impaired Elderly Persons." American Journal of Geriatric 

Psychiatry 8(2):104–111. 

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(2001). First Response to Victims of Crime. Washington, 

D.C.: Office for Victims of Crime. 

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Vulnerability and Reporting Behavior for Consumer 

Fraud Victimization: Opportunity as a Social Aspect of 

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17(4):328–345. 
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Velasco, J. (2000). "Ventura County District Attorney's 

Senior Crime Prevention Program." Journal of Elder 

Abuse & Neglect 12(2):103–106. 

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Wilber, K., and S. Reynolds (1996). "Introducing a 

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Gerontologist 31(1):92–101. 
About the Author 65 

About the Author 

Kelly Dedel Johnson 

Kelly Dedel Johnson is a criminal justice consultant based in 

Portland, Ore. On behalf of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, 

she has provided evaluation-related technical assistance to 

over 60 jurisdictions nationwide, three of which have 

implemented successful elder abuse programs [the Illinois 

State Police, the Riverside County (Calif.) District Attorney's 

Office, and the Spokane County (Wash.) Prosecuting 

Attorney's Office]. In this capacity, she works with a broad 

range of criminal justice programs implemented by police, 

prosecutors, public defenders, local jails, community 

corrections, and prisons. She also consults with the Justice 

Department as a monitor/investigator of civil rights 

violations in juvenile correctional facilities, most often in the 

area of education. She is on the faculty of the National 

Judicial College, where she provides judicial training on the 

consequences of incarcerating juveniles in adult prisons and 

jails. Among her other research interests are risk assessment 

and offender classification, and evaluations of communitybased supervision for adult and juvenile offenders. Dedel 

Johnson received a bachelor's degree in psychology and 

criminal justice from the University of Richmond, and a 

doctorate in clinical psychology from the Center for 

Psychological Studies, in Berkeley, Calif. 

Recommended Readings 67 

Recommended Readings 

• A Police Guide to Surveying Citizens and Their 

Environments, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 1993. This 

guide offers a practical introduction for police practitioners 

to two types of surveys that police find useful: surveying 

public opinion and surveying the physical environment. It 

provides guidance on whether and how to conduct costeffective surveys. 

• Assessing Responses to Problems: An 

Introductory Guide for Police Problem-Solvers, by 

John E. Eck (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of 

Community Oriented Policing Services, 2001). This guide is 

a companion to the Problem-Oriented Guides for Police series. It 

provides basic guidance to measuring and assessing 

problem-oriented policing efforts. 

• Conducting Community Surveys, by Deborah Weisel 

(Bureau of Justice Statistics and Office of Community 

Oriented Policing Services, 1999). This guide, along with 

accompanying computer software, provides practical, basic 

pointers for police in conducting community surveys. The 

document is also available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs. 

• Crime Prevention Studies, edited by Ronald V. Clarke 

(Criminal Justice Press, 1993, et seq.). This is a series of 

volumes of applied and theoretical research on reducing 

opportunities for crime. Many chapters are evaluations of 

initiatives to reduce specific crime and disorder problems. 
68 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing:The 1999 

Herman Goldstein Award Winners. This document 

produced by the National Institute of Justice in 

collaboration with the Office of Community Oriented 

Policing Services and the Police Executive Research Forum 

provides detailed reports of the best submissions to the 

annual award program that recognizes exemplary problemoriented responses to various community problems. A 

similar publication is available for the award winners from 

subsequent years. The documents are also available at 

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij. 

• Not Rocket Science? Problem-Solving and Crime 

Reduction, by Tim Read and Nick Tilley (Home Office 

Crime Reduction Research Series, 2000). Identifies and 

describes the factors that make problem-solving effective or 

ineffective as it is being practiced in police forces in 

England and Wales. 

• Opportunity Makes the Thief: Practical Theory for 

Crime Prevention, by Marcus Felson and Ronald V. 

Clarke (Home Office Police Research Series, Paper No. 98, 

1998). Explains how crime theories such as routine activity 

theory, rational choice theory and crime pattern theory have 

practical implications for the police in their efforts to 

prevent crime. 

• Problem Analysis in Policing, by Rachel Boba (Police 

Foundation, 2003). Introduces and defines problem 

analysis and provides guidance on how problem analysis 

can be integrated and institutionalized into modern 

policing practices. 
Recommended Readings 69 

• Problem-Oriented Policing, by Herman Goldstein 

(McGraw-Hill, 1990, and Temple University Press, 1990). 

Explains the principles and methods of problem-oriented 

policing, provides examples of it in practice, and discusses 

how a police agency can implement the concept. 

• Problem-Oriented Policing and Crime 

Prevention, by Anthony A. Braga (Criminal Justice 

Press, 2003). Provides a through review of significant 

policing research about problem places, high-activity 

offenders, and repeat victims, with a focus on the 

applicability of those findings to problem-oriented 

policing. Explains how police departments can facilitate 

problem-oriented policing by improving crime analysis, 

measuring performance, and securing productive 

partnerships. 

• Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the 

First 20 Years, by Michael S. Scott (U.S. Department of 

Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 

2000). Describes how the most critical elements of 

Herman Goldstein's problem-oriented policing model have 

developed in practice over its 20-year history, and proposes 

future directions for problem-oriented policing. The report 

is also available at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

• Problem-Solving: Problem-Oriented Policing in 

Newport News, by John E. Eck and William Spelman 

(Police Executive Research Forum, 1987). Explains the 

rationale behind problem-oriented policing and the 

problem-solving process, and provides examples of 

effective problem-solving in one agency. 
70 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

• Problem-Solving Tips: A Guide to Reducing Crime 

and Disorder Through Problem-Solving 

Partnerships by Karin Schmerler, Matt Perkins, Scott 

Phillips, Tammy Rinehart and Meg Townsend. (U.S. 

Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 

Policing Services, 1998) (also available at 

www.cops.usdoj.gov). Provides a brief introduction to 

problem-solving, basic information on the SARA model 

and detailed suggestions about the problem-solving process. 

• Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case 

Studies, Second Edition, edited by Ronald V. Clarke 

(Harrow and Heston, 1997). Explains the principles and 

methods of situational crime prevention, and presents over 

20 case studies of effective crime prevention initiatives. 

• Tackling Crime and Other Public-Safety Problems: 

Case Studies in Problem-Solving, by Rana Sampson 

and Michael S. Scott (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of 

Community Oriented Policing Services, 2000) (also available 

at www.cops.usdoj.gov). Presents case studies of effective 

police problem-solving on 18 types of crime and disorder 

problems. 

• Using Analysis for Problem-Solving: A Guidebook 

for Law Enforcement, by Timothy S. Bynum (U.S. 

Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 

Policing Services, 2001). Provides an introduction for 

police to analyzing problems within the context of 

problem-oriented policing. 

• Using Research: A Primer for Law Enforcement 

Managers, Second Edition, by John E. Eck and Nancy G. 

LaVigne (Police Executive Research Forum, 1994). Explains 

many of the basics of research as it applies to police 

management and problem-solving. 
Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 71 

Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides series: 

1.	 Assaults in and Around Bars. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 

ISBN: 1-932582-00-2 

2.	 Street Prostitution. Michael S. Scott. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-01-0 

3.	 Speeding in Residential Areas. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 

ISBN: 1-932582-02-9 

4.	 Drug Dealing in Privately Owned Apartment Complexes. 

Rana Sampson. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-03-7 

5.	 False Burglar Alarms. Rana Sampson. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-04-5 

6.	 Disorderly Youth in Public Places. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 

ISBN: 1-932582-05-3 

7.	 Loud Car Stereos. Michael S. Scott. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-06-1 

8.	 Robbery at Automated Teller Machines. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 

ISBN: 1-932582-07-X 

9.	 Graffiti. Deborah Lamm Weisel. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-08-8 

10. Thefts of and From Cars in Parking Facilities. Ronald V. 

Clarke. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-09-6 

11. Shoplifting. Ronald V. Clarke. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-10-X 

12. Bullying in Schools. Rana Sampson. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-11-8 

13. Panhandling. Michael S. Scott. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-12-6 

14. Rave Parties. Michael S. Scott. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-13-4 

15. Burglary of Retail Establishments. Ronald V. Clarke. 2002. 

ISBN: 1-932582-14-2 

16. Clandestine Drug Labs. Michael S. Scott. 2002. 

ISBN: 1-932582-15-0 

17. Acquaintance Rape of College Students. Rana Sampson. 2002. 

ISBN: 1-932582-16-9 

18. Burglary of Single-Family Houses. Deborah Lamm Weisel. 

2002. ISBN: 1-932582-17-7 

19. Misuse and Abuse of 911. Rana Sampson. 2002. 

ISBN: 1-932582-18-5 
72 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

20. Financial Crimes Against the Elderly. 

Kelly Dedel Johnson. 2003. ISBN: 1-932582-22-3 

21. Check and Card Fraud. Graeme R. Newman. 2003. 

ISBN: 1-932582-27-4 

22. Stalking. The National Center for Victims of Crime. 2004. 

ISBN: 1-932582-30-4 

23. Gun Violence Among Serious Young Offenders. Anthony A. 

Braga. 2004. ISBN: 1-932582-31-2 

24. Prescription Fraud. Julie Wartell, Nancy G. La Vigne. 2004. 

ISBN: 1-932582-33-9 

25. Identity Theft. Graeme R. Newman. 2004 ISBN: 1-932582-35-5 

26. Crimes Against Tourists. Ronald W. Glensor, Kenneth J. Peak. 2004 

ISBN: 1-932582-36-3 

Response Guides series: 

• The Benefits and Consequences of Police Crackdowns. 

Michael S. Scott. 2003. ISBN: 1-932582-24-X 

Problem-Solving Tools series: 

• Assessing Responses to Problems: An Introductory Guide for 

Police Problem-Solvers. John E. Eck. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-19-3 

Upcoming Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides 

Disorder at Budget Motels 

Domestic Violence 

Mentally Ill Persons 

Robbery of Taxi Drivers 

Student Party Disturbances on College Campuses 

School Break-Ins 

Street Racing 

Bomb Threats in Schools 
Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 73 

Underage Drinking 

Open-Air Drug Markets 

Sexual Offenses in Public Places 

Drunk Driving 

Cruising 

Bank Robbery 

Response Guides 

Closing Streets and Alleys to Reduce Crime 

Problem-Solving Tools 

Repeat Victimization 

Using Offender Interviews to Inform Police Problem-Solving 

Other Related COPS Office Publications 

• Using Analysis for Problem-Solving: A Guidebook 

for Law Enforcement. Timothy S. Bynum. 

• Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the First 

20 Years. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 

• Tackling Crime and Other Public-Safety Problems: 

Case Studies in Problem-Solving. Rana Sampson and 

Michael S. Scott. 2000. 

• Community Policing, Community Justice, and 

Restorative Justice: Exploring the Links for the 

Delivery of a Balanced Approach to Public Safety. 

Caroline G. Nicholl. 1999. 

• Toolbox for Implementing Restorative Justice and 

Advancing Community Policing. Caroline G. Nicholl. 

2000. 

•	 Problem-Solving Tips: A Guide to Reducing 

Crime and Disorder Through Problem-Solving 

Partnerships. Karin Schmerler, Matt Perkins, Scott 

Phillips, Tammy Rinehart and Meg Townsend. 1998. 
74 Financial Crimes Against the Elderly 

•	 Bringing Victims into Community Policing. The 

National Center for Victims of Crime and the Police 

Foundation. 2002. 

•	 Call Management and Community Policing. Tom 

McEwen, Deborah Spence, Russell Wolff, Julie Wartell 

and Barbara Webster. 2003. 

•	 Crime Analysis in America. Timothy C. O’Shea and 

Keith Nicholls. 2003. 

•	 Problem Analysis in Policing. Rachel Boba. 2003. 

•	 Reducing Theft at Construction Sites: Lessons 

From a Problem-Oriented Project. Ronald V. Clarke 

and Herman Goldstein. 2003. 

•	 The COPS Collaboration Toolkit: How to Build, 

Fix, and Sustain Productive Partnerships. Gwen O. 

Briscoe, Anna T. Laszlo and Tammy A. Rinehart. 

2001. 

•	 The Law Enforcement Tech Guide: How to plan, 

purchase and manage technology (successfully!). 

Kelly J. Harris and William H. Romesburg. 2002. 

•	 Theft From Cars in Center City Parking 

Facilities - A Case Study. Ronald V. Clarke and 

Herman Goldstein. 2003. 

For more information about the Problem-Oriented Guides for 

Police series and other COPS Office publications, please call 

the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 or visit 

COPS Online at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

1100 Vermont Avenue, N.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20530 

To obtain details on COPS programs, call the 

COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 

Visit COPS Online at the address listed below. 

e07042443 Updated Date: August 4, 2004 

ISBN: 1-932582-22-3 

www.cops.usdoj.gov