AGENCY TESTIMONY
Education and outreach efforts to prevent elder fraud
0:19:58
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167 sec
NYC Aging and its partners have implemented various education and outreach initiatives to prevent elder fraud and raise awareness among older adults. These efforts aim to empower older New Yorkers with knowledge and tools to recognize and report scams.
- Over 6,000 police officers have been trained to identify elder abuse
- Older Adult Liaisons provide crime prevention tips and attend community meetings
- Presentations are conducted at older adult centers about common scams
- NYC Aging Government Affairs Unit hosts educational sessions with elected officials
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
0:19:58
We have also made significant strides in reaching vulnerable populations and providing them with essential tools and knowledge to report and recognize abuse.
0:20:09
The liaisons also review complaint reports made to NYPD involving older adults to provide assistance, follow-up, and educate older adults on the latest crime prevention tips and to attend community council meetings to help keep the public informed.
0:20:26
In many instances, the liaisons have been present at older adult centers throughout the city as a way to introduce themselves to older adults in their local communities.
0:20:37
Moreover, at each of the above mentioned older adult town halls hosted by mayor Adams across the the city, the liaisons are also in attendance.
0:20:47
And they engage with the older adults and provide valuable information.
0:20:51
They help ensure that they're familiar with the officers assigned to their local precepts.
0:20:57
Elder fraud and scams are pervasive threats to older New Yorkers and the resource team conducts briefing at older adult centers about common scams, ensuring that older adults are informed and empowered.
0:21:11
Presentation at older adult centers across the city our critical strategy in helping us raise awareness and provide essential information directly to those who most needed.
0:21:24
This goes beyond just the resource sensors focus the focus is other NYC Aging units.
0:21:31
Recently, the New York City Aging Government Affairs Unit hosted educational sessions about our programs and services with elected officials in all five boroughs.
0:21:42
Consistent services staff in elective offices have had the opportunity to hear from the resource center staff about the types of elder abuse, adults experience, and the sisters that we can provide in order to better refer older adults to our programs.
0:22:01
This is incredibly timely as we are recently learned of a scam where older adults are contacted by political campaigns.
0:22:13
My co political campaigns, which utilize which utilize deceptive fundraising tactics, was set up recurrent donations and ultimately drained their bank accounts.
0:22:24
They receive a never ending barrage of text messages as asking for more donations, which adds to the confusion around the number of times these older adults gave to a campaign.
0:22:36
As you can see, education and prevention or necessary tools to combat Elderfraud, and scam against older adults is something that we must all be vigilant.
