Bean Town Times

BOSTON – In observation of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy highlighted the District of Massachusetts’ ongoing efforts to protect older Americans from elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Since 2006, WEAAD has promoted awareness and increased understanding of various forms of elder abuse and available resources for those at risk. Emphasizing collaboration between law enforcement and the public, Acting U.S. Attorney Levy stressed the significance of awareness and education.

“Millions of adults aged 60 and older become victims of abuse every year – with nearly one in 10 annually experiencing some form of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Levy. “Protecting seniors from abuse and exploitation is one of our top priorities. Our office has successfully prosecuted a number of individuals in recent years who have preyed on this vulnerable population through financial scams. We remain relentless in this fight for elder justice, and we will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement and community partners to hold people accountable for such misconduct and recover stolen funds whenever possible.”

Elder abuse includes acts that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently cause or create a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other trusted individual. This harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains various programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

Earlier this year, Chukwunonso “Douglas” Umegbo (also known as James Abbott, Michael Philips, Richard Armani), 39, formerly of New Bedford, Mass., was sentenced to over three years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering charges involving funds obtained from “romance scam” victims. From 2018 through 2019, Umegbo used fake identity documents to open bank accounts in the greater Boston area to receive more than $568,000 from at least 45 romance scam victims. Among them was a senior who lost her car, house, and retirement savings following the loss of her husband.

In honor of this year’s WEAAD event., the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts developed an Elder Justice Outreach Prevention Program aimed at raising awareness among older adults across Massachusetts in partnership with local police departments and senior centers.

Yesterday Acting U.S. Attorney Levy spoke alongside Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn at the Bristol County Celebration of Seniors about how seniors can protect themselves from financial exploitation.

The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force coordinates federal and state agencies working together to investigate foreign-based schemes targeting older Americans while providing public information on traditional scams like tech support fraud as well as trending schemes such as romance scams.

Fraudsters often use money mules—many times older victims—to move proceeds illegally without detection. The Money Mule Initiative identifies such activities disrupting these fraud schemes while helping people recognize their role in perpetuating fraud.

To help older individuals avoid fraudulent activity Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts detailing tactics used in specific schemes including Social Security Administration Impostor schemes where scammers impersonate government officials requesting social security numbers; Tech Support scams warning about non-existent computer problems demanding payment for unnecessary services; Lottery scams falsely notifying victims they won sweepstakes requiring fees before claiming prizes.

For more information visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

If you need assistance or want to report elder abuse contact your local adult protective services agency via Eldercare Locator or call helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday–Friday 9am–8pm EST.

To report elder fraud visit FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center or contact National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) Monday–Friday 10am–6pm EST.