The U.S. Attorney's Office is collaborating with Age-Friendly Mecklenburg and AARP-Charlotte to host the 3rd Annual Walk for Awareness in Charlotte, North Carolina. This event will take place on June 11, 2025, at Freedom Park, preceding World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m., and the walk begins at 9:00 a.m.
"Elder abuse, neglect, or exploitation affects too many older adults in our communities," said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. He emphasized the importance of raising awareness about different forms of abuse and how to seek help.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was first recognized on June 15, 2006, by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization. The day aims to increase understanding of elder abuse and its contributing factors.
Financial exploitation remains a growing crime against older adults. According to the FBI’s Internet Crimes Report from 2024, financial losses reached $16.6 billion, with those over age 60 suffering $4.8 billion in losses from various scams including investment fraud and tech support scams.
“It is not that older adults are more gullible,” said Ferguson. “It’s that they have built up the assets that make them targets for criminals.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues efforts against elder fraud through prosecutions involving domestic and international perpetrators:
- In May, a California man was indicted for allegedly orchestrating a $4 million investment scheme targeting elderly victims.
- In March, a Nigerian national pleaded guilty to laundering proceeds linked to romance scams.
- Also in March, an individual was extradited from Spain facing charges related to an international tech support scheme targeting older victims in North Carolina.
In addition to legal actions, education initiatives are ongoing through partnerships with law enforcement agencies and community organizations under the Elder Justice Initiative.
In May, participation in Age Friendly Mecklenburg’s annual Scam Jam helped educate seniors on scam detection and prevention methods.
Further educational efforts include sharing information about common scams like tech support scams or non-payment/non-delivery schemes affecting older Americans disproportionately.
To avoid financial scams:
- Avoid sharing personal information with unknown individuals.
- Verify claims independently before responding.
- Do not pay fees for prizes or lottery winnings.
- Ignore suspicious messages or calls requesting money transfers without verification.
Reporting suspected elder fraud can be done via the Justice Department’s Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311) or through their website Justice.gov/elderjustice for more resources.
