StoneTurn is pleased to share news that following a year of advocating on behalf of a client who was a victim of elder fraud, the Department of Justice (DOJ)/U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) took action and arrested two individuals alleged to be behind the scheme in late June 2024.
David Burroughs, who served as the primary liaison between the client’s family and law enforcement, noted, “While it’s definitely good news that this individual has been exposed, it raises alarm bells: our client was one of sixteen victims identified in the long-running scheme. As encouraged as I am about the great work of the DOJ/SDNY and FBI resulting in the arrests, I am still troubled by the fact that I know that elder fraud often goes unreported and targets more people than we know. It’s past time to put an end to this truly devastating crime.”
According to David, preventing such frauds begins with knowing the warning sides, and where to go if you believe you or your loved one may be the victim of a scam.
What to Watch Out For
- Scammers tend to create a sense of urgency/fear, or the scenarios may represent an opportunity that is too good to be true. Resist the urge to react and contact the local police if you feel there is a danger to you or a loved one.
- Scrutinize unexpected calls, mail, email or even door knocking visitors that are offering services.
- Never provide any personal information (such as full name, birth date, address, names of loved ones), or money, jewelry, gifts or banking information to people or organizations you have not verified or that you do not know.
- Make sure to properly vet individuals who you allow into your home such as home attendants or care givers, or individuals representing themselves as inspectors or utility workers, etc. indicating they need to check the gas line or offer some other “urgent” reason they need to enter your home.
- Ensure you or your loved one has the right anti-virus software and firewall services installed. Also, be extra vigilant if you receive an email or telephone call from an individual warning that your anti-virus is about to expire and if you don’t act immediately, your computer could be vulnerable. If you believe a device has been compromised, shut it down and disconnect it immediately.
- Do not click on links or email attachments in unsolicited or unexpected communications, even from people you know. Always confirm through a separate communication channel, such as a phone call, that a message was sent to you by the individual claiming to have sent it.
- Consider leveraging tools for financial monitoring or power of attorney, as well as technical resources such as automatically forwarding unknown numbers to voicemail.
- Individuals on the phone representing themselves as law enforcement, part of a government agency such as the Social Security Administration, or IRS warning that you or a loved one have a situation which needs to be resolved immediately or you or a loved one faces potential arrest for a violation you did not know existed.
No matter the size of the loss, it is critical to report it to authorities. Scammers often simultaneously target multiple individuals, and by reporting a crime, it helps stop these nefarious actors from taking advantage of the next person and bring the scammers to justice.
The FBI’s IC3 portal allows for reporting of any kind of internet crime, including elder fraud. Individuals are also encouraged to reach out to a local FBI field office for reporting and resources. Additionally, individuals can report frauds and scams to the FTC. Organizations for seniors and retirees, such as AARP, have hotlines offering resources as well. If you believe you or a loved one has been targeted to be scammed, always contact the local police for assistance. Rapid reporting and identification of the fraud greatly helps to minimize the potential loss and can even assist law enforcement in identifying and even apprehending those responsible.
Read additional tips and find more information here.
Meet David
David C. Burroughs
David C. Burroughs, a Partner with StoneTurn, brings over 30 years of law enforcement, public and private sector experience in fraud and forensic investigations, security threat and risk assessments, compliance […]
