U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, left, and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman address more than 100 seniors attending a forum on fraud and abuse last week. Photo courtesy U.S. Rep. Grace Meng’s office
Citing the fact that seniors are consistently the targets of scammers trying to financially exploit elderly residents, as well as other types of abuse, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman hosted a forum last week focusing on ways individuals can protect themselves from con-artists and mistreatment.
At the forum held at the Selfhelp Benjamin Rosenthal Senior Center in Flushing, Schneiderman presented his “Smart Seniors” program at the forum – an initiative to help elderly residents identify potential scams and abuses before they happen. Additionally, the program aims to provide seniors with information to stay safe and healthy during their daily lives.
“Unfortunately, fraudsters and scammers constantly pray upon our seniors,” Meng said. “These shameful acts make it essential for older adults to do all they can to protect themselves against this type of abuse. To prevent becoming victims, seniors must be aware of the many schemes that are perpetrated by those who seek to defraud and hurt them, and the Attorney General’s Smart Seniors program and our efforts on the federal level go a long way towards accomplishing that goal.”
Schneiderman noted that while “we are all at risk of becoming victims of fraud,” older adults are at a special risk and often targeted by con-artists.
“By providing New York seniors with information on how to spot a fraudulent scheme, we are empowering them to take action before they are taken,” the attorney general said.
Seniors may face financial exploitation, identity theft, telephone and sweepstakes schemes, home improvement rip-offs, online scams, and physical abuse, Meng and Schneiderman said. These issues are addressed in the Smart Seniors program, as well as powers of attorney, health care proxies, and living wills.
As part of last week’s gathering, Meng discussed her “Anti-Spoofing Act,” a bipartisan measure she introduced in Congress this past December to crack down on a widespread telephone scam taking place throughout Queens – and across the country. The scheme consists of fake names and phone numbers being displayed on recipients’ caller IDs in order to trick them into picking up the phone or replying to text messages. The practice, known as “spoofing,” is widely used by scammers and unscrupulous telemarketers who will then go on to sell merchandise or obtain personal and financial information from the caller.
Meng’s bill aims broaden a 2009 federal law regarding caller identification to ensure that penalties are imposed on individuals who misrepresent themselves in order to obtain personal or financial information.
Additionally, the legislator told seniors last week that she is sponsoring the Elder Abuse Victims Act of 2013, which would establish a federal office to address issues relating to elder abuse. Meng also noted that she is supporting the Elder Care Tax Credit, which allows for a tax credit for dependent care expenses for parents – or ancestors of such parents – of the taxpayer who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care.
By Anna Gustafson
