REMARKS
Council Member Ariola commends agency collaboration and discusses elder fraud challenges
1:33:37
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3 min
Council Member Joann Ariola expresses gratitude for the collaborative efforts of agencies in addressing elder fraud and shares personal experiences related to scams targeting older adults. She commends the outreach efforts of NYPD and other agencies in educating seniors about fraud prevention.
- Highlights the importance of continuous education due to the evolving nature of scams
- Discusses the challenge of shame experienced by victims of elder fraud
- Emphasizes the need for increased funding to support outreach efforts
Joann Ariola
1:33:37
Thank you, chairs.
1:33:38
I thank you everyone for coming in today, and it's so nice to see agencies working collaboratively.
1:33:44
Because it really is the best way to get things done.
1:33:47
And you made mention, chief Sivino, about the the construction people that were going.
1:33:51
That was kind of that was kind of something that we could track, that we could make a pattern because it was going from Bob's portion of the district.
1:33:58
And then once the 104 got onto them, then they came into the 106, into my portion of the district, and I'm so happy that that the arrests were made.
1:34:06
But I don't envy you your jobs because every time one scam is washed, another one pops up.
1:34:14
My mom, of course, is an is an older adult, and, you know, we've we've helped her through many of things that she'll say.
1:34:21
I think I just did something so wrong.
1:34:24
You know, but thankfully everything's been okay.
1:34:26
However, I do want to say that your outreach is outstanding.
1:34:30
You come to our civic association meetings.
1:34:33
NYPD crime prevention officers throughout our of my district.
1:34:36
They go to the senior centers.
1:34:38
They come to the community boards.
1:34:40
They're always seeking out where they can and in various languages, because they have a very diverse district.
1:34:46
You know, where they can meet with seniors and educate eight seniors because it's very difficult.
1:34:52
These the seniors, when the phone rings, they say, hello.
1:34:58
They're really excited about who's on the other phone because maybe they didn't talk to anybody that day.
1:35:02
Right?
1:35:02
They didn't get a call from their kid yet.
1:35:04
And so and then when they say, my mother was the victim of, you know, your oldest grandson.
1:35:10
We have him here.
1:35:11
My her oldest grandson happened to be sitting at the table that day.
1:35:14
So, you know, that was something that was averted.
1:35:18
But IRS calling, the Social Security calling, I mean, I think she might be on the list of someone to call, but but, you know, because of the outreach, because of the flyers that we bring home to her, because our office holds seminars for elder scams and abuses and things like that.
1:35:38
We work closely with with our our precincts, our NCOs, our community as officers.
1:35:43
So, you know, I I does it stop it?
1:35:45
No.
1:35:46
But What what I will not really mention because it really pierced me, commissioner, when you said about the shame, because that's real.
1:35:56
It's
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:35:56
very real.
Joann Ariola
1:35:57
Because these are people who are functioning so well, but now they've lost a bit of clarity.
1:36:04
So they oftentimes don't want to report it.
1:36:06
They don't want to tell their adult children.
1:36:07
They don't want to tell anyone that it took place.
1:36:11
So that outreach that you do in that area, and I agree with the chair, we need to find more funding for more people to go out from from your agency because they are ashamed.
1:36:24
And it is difficult then for them to go to the precinct or even to have an officer come to the house without sharing with one of their adult children to be there to help them navigate.
1:36:34
So I as I said, I don't envy you your job, but I really am so pleased with the outcome, the work that you're doing, and the fact that you work so well with our offices.
1:36:45
So thank you very much.
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
1:36:47
Thank you for that.
1:36:47
I also want to take a a moment of privilege here.
1:36:51
And please, you know, you all hear me talk about ageism all the time.
1:36:56
Please do not.
1:36:58
The first reaction is, how could you let that happen?
1:37:02
Alright.
1:37:02
That just embeds shame.
1:37:04
So that's all part of of the process.
1:37:07
So I I ask each one of us to to refrain from those instincts, but the because the shame is real, and we don't need it to be embedded.
Joann Ariola
1:37:17
And my final thank you is to for answering all my questions before I had to ask them.
1:37:21
So thank you so much.
1:37:22
Thank
