With elder fraud on the rise, Sen. Klinefelt partners with Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to caution seniors on how to avoid being scammed
CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (August 31, 2023) — Sen. Veronica Klinefelt (D-Eastpointe) hosted a Senior Issues Town Hall today at the south branch of the Clinton-Macomb Library. Joining Sen. Klinefelt was Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and the Area Agency on Aging 1-B who provided presentations on scams targeting seniors. Attendees were able to learn how to spot the telltale signs of scams through phone calls, mail, email and texts and how to minimize their risk of being scammed.
“With Michigan’s population aging and rates of elder fraud rising, it is imperative that we take the necessary steps to protect our seniors,” said Sen. Klinefelt. “Thanks to the combined efforts of Attorney General Nessel and community organizations dedicated to serving our older Michiganders, we can work to mitigate the effects of elder fraud. I’m hopeful that our town hall today was able to connect seniors with the information and resources they need to proactively identify and report fraud and abuse so they can enjoy their golden years without fear of exploitation.”
Over the past several years, the National Council on Aging has found that rates of elder fraud have been rising. Additionally, data from the Office of Attorney General Dana Nessel finds that an average of 73,000 older Michigan adults each year fall victim to elder abuse, which includes financial exploitation. Unfortunately, older Michiganders often lack the tools to spot fraud before it’s too late, underscoring the need for town halls like Sen. Klinefelt’s.
Three of the primary ways bad actors target seniors to steal their money or personal information include Grandparent Emergency Scams, IRS Phone and Email Scams and Sweepstake Scams. For more information about scams and other issues facing seniors, the Michigan Elder Abuse Task Force has a host of resources available for residents on their website.
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