15 Tips to Protect Senior Citizens from Elder Abuse Identity Theft
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It's unfortunate, but we first brought you True Crime Stories of Elder Abuse and Identity Theft. Now we can share with you tips on what you can do to protect yourself and what several states have started doing to protect their senior citizens. What is being done to protect senior citizens from identity theft and financial scams? In June, 2009, The West Central Vulnerable Adults Coalition, in North Dakota, held its first event to educate senior citizens about the danger of identity theft. At this event not only was information provided about how the elderly are targeted but a giant Shred-a-Thon was held to help senior citizens do away with papers containing information useful for identity theft that they may have been collecting for years. Many people, not just seniors are unwilling to get rid of the paper trail regarding certain financial and personal information and this event was an effort to teach what needs to be kept and for how long as well as providing a place to safely get rid of those records that could be trashed. At the event Wayne Stenehjem, the North Dakota Attorney General shared, "Certainly things you need to keep indefinitely like your marriage, divorce, other family, military records. Those kinds of things you keep forever, but your bank accounts and your telephone accounts, those kinds of things can be destroyed." North Dakota is not the only state that is leading the nation in attempts to protect our elderly. In 2008, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into effect two laws to help the elderly. The first, SB1343 permits senior citizens to have a friend or family member in the court room to provide support. "By allowing a friend or family member in the courtroom while giving difficult testimony, elderly and disabled adults will feel more comfortable coming forward and pressing charges to allow justice to be served," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "This legislation not only protects this vulnerable community, but helps to prevent these types of crimes from happening again." California law SB 612 provides victims of identity theft the opportunity to have their cases prosecuted in the county that they live in, which is not always the county where the crime occurred. This law provided victims with better resources to not only prosecute the crime makes it more likely they will since it will not involve the added expense and trouble of travel. Ohio and several other states have begun to give stiffer penalties for crimes against the elderly. The Attorney General's office in Michigan has begun tracking of identity theft in nursing homes and conducts routine checks for residents. What can you do to protect the elderly that you love or care for? Use prevention and protection tips and information from trusted resources such as: These sources can also assist you, along with your local police departments in the reporting and prosecution of the crime of elder abuse and identity theft.
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