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International Financial Crime: How Do We Turn the Tide and Help Older Victims? (August 1, 2018)

Webinar Recording

Webinar Slides:
Steve Baker's slides
Debbie Deem's slides

Additional Resources referenced during webinar:
Wise & Healthy Aging Romance Scam Support Group Flyer
Ventura Coalition 2018 Romance Scam Support Flyer
LA SCAMS Working Group - Tips for Avoiding Financial Scams
Senior's Guide to Online Safety
Baker Fraud Report
Steve Baker's BBB studies:

• Online Romance Scams: https://www.bbb.org/globalassets/article-library/romance-scam-study/bbb-study-online-romance-scams-study.pdf
• Sweepstakes, Lottery and Prize Scams: https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/news-releases/17786-sweepstakes-lottery-and-prize-scams-a-better-business-bureau-study-of-how-winners-lose-millions-through-an-evolving-fraud
• Tech Support Scam: https://www.bbb.org/globalassets/article-library/tech-scam-study/bbb-computer-tech-support-study.pdf
• Puppy Scams: https://www.bbb.org/globalassets/article-library/puppy-scam-study/puppy-scams-bbb-study-20170901.pdf

This webinar shared descriptions of international financial crimes that target the elderly, identified where to file complaints, and why to do so. It also described the challenges of working with these populations, including managing expectations and the impact of promising programs. Presenters for this webinar are fraud fighter superstars: FBI Victim Specialist Debbie Deem and Steve Baker, former Director of the Federal Trade Commission of the Midwest, who has authored reports for the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the recent CEJC blog post ‘Awash in a Sea of Fraud: No Guns, No Action’.

This webinar discussed the epidemic of financial crimes perpetrated against the elderly in the USA and America’s response to these threats. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center has reported that internet romance scams targeting older adults is the #1 reported personal crime by loss of dollar amount reported to them. A new study by the BBB reports that 2,820 people reported sweepstakes and lottery scams in 2017, with a median loss of $500. There have undoubtedly been many more victims with even greater losses. Many victims are afraid to report, or see limited results when they do.

Professionals working with victims, suffering devastating losses and emotional trauma are victimized repeatedly, and may play a role in their own victimization. Some victims need help negotiating with: creditors, family members, the IRS, landlords, and/or public benefits programs after their victimizations; while others may be implicated in crimes they were unaware of.

Panelists included:

Debbie Deem, FBI Victims Specialist
Steve Baker, International Investigations Specialist, Better Business Bureau

This National Elder Justice Advocates Academy webinar was hosted by CEJC with support from the Huguette Clark Family Fund for the Protection of Elders.

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If you would like to register for an upcoming webinar, please visit our Webinars and Events page.

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OTHER WEBINAR RECORDINGS

The Power of Peer Support Groups for Older Scam Victims (February 2020) 

Civil Remedies for Empowering Victims of Elder Financial Exploitation (December 2019)

Improving Access to Aging Services with Community Health Workers (November 2019)
​
Reforming Adult Guardianship Through Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders (July 2019)

State ID Theft Coalitions: Stolen Identities and Beyond (May 2019)
​
In Conversation with Bill Benson: The State of Elder Justice (March 2019)

What's new in Undue Influence: Definitions, Tools, and Court Responses (November 2018)

Homelessness in Older Adults: Causes, Consequences and Prevention (September 2018)

Engaging Financial Institutions in Abuse Investigations (June 2018)

Building an Elder Justice Framework State by State (May 2018)

Click here for recordings of past webinars.

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