OFFICER TRAINING Fraud against elderly flagged
Victims are often reluctant to report losing money in a scam.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Ohio's high percentage of elderly residents makes it a prime target for frauds, cons and scams perpetrated against older citizens, says a victim advocate coordinator with the state attorney general's office.
Ohio ranks fifth on the fraud list, and neighboring Pennsylvania is first, said Dave Kessler, who works in the attorney general's Child and Elder Protection Section.
He spoke Friday to about 100 area law enforcement officers and prosecutors at Youngstown State University at a one-day training program on crimes against the elderly.
Criminals may be reluctant to engage in a burglary and robbery in this area because they stand a good chance of being caught, but the chances of getting arrested in a fraud or other scheme against an elderly victim is "slim to none," Kessler said.
The perpetrators work hard at gaining the friendship and trust of their victims, who are frequently too embarrassed even to report the crime after they realize they've been taken, he said.
They are often more concerned that their families will find out what happened than they are interested in prosecuting the person or people responsible for the crime, he added. They fear losing their independence if family members feel they can no longer handle their own finances, he said.
The victims literally give their money to the thieves, although often under false pretenses for work or caregiving that is never done. They generally find it difficult to accept that their "friend" would steal their money, Kessler said.
Some victims may hand over money because they feel pressured or that the perpetrator might physically harm them if they refuse, he said.
Solving financial crimes against the elderly also can be difficult, Kessler said, noting that police officers don't get much training for financial elder abuse crimes.
His office stands ready to help local departments working on such crimes, he added.
Ramping up protections
Getting prosecutors and front-line law enforcement collaborating in combating elderly abuse is a key focus of the training sessions, said Bill Mason, Cuyahoga County prosecutor and chairman of the Northern Ohio Elder Protection Training Council.
The council used a $300,000 federal grant to offer four elder crime training sessions across northern Ohio that attracted more than 600 participants.
Mason and Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains served as hosts for Friday's program.
Leo Palaibis, an accountant in the Child and Elder Protection Section, gave investigators some tips on what to look for when doing a financial investigation.
One of the first things perpetrators try to get is a victim's power of attorney so they can control the money, he said.
Medical power of attorney is a close second, he said.
It helps to be able to build a case by following the money rather than relying solely on testimony of the victims, who often are reluctant witnesses, Palaibis added.
That will involve getting subpoenas for bank records of both victim and perpetrator as well as tracking down tax returns, business records and accountant records, he said.
Palaibis offered some "red flags" that point to financial exploitation.
Inappropriate personal banking where the victim is suddenly withdrawing sums of cash from an account, missing funds or valuables, newly opened joint bank accounts and abrupt changes in wills or property ownership are some of the things police and families should be alert about, he said.
gwin@vindy.com