Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Alison J. Ramsdell, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota, is acknowledging June as Elder Abuse Awareness Month alongside federal, state, tribal, and local advocates. The initiative aims to raise awareness about elder abuse and promote available resources for those at risk.
"Millions of seniors are affected by elder abuse each year, which robs them of their finances, their security, and their dignity," stated U.S. Attorney Ramsdell. She emphasized the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to collaborate with law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting individuals who target vulnerable populations. Ramsdell urged the public to participate by checking on older adults and monitoring signs of abuse or unusual financial transactions.
Signs that may indicate elder fraud include unexplained charges or withdrawals from bank accounts, suspicious signatures on checks or financial documents, abrupt changes in wills or other financial documents, and unpaid bills despite sufficient financial resources.
The Justice Department offers Senior Scam Alerts to help older individuals and families identify fraudulent activities. Common scams involve calls from unknown individuals claiming a loved one has been kidnapped or arrested, requests for money from an online romantic partner not personally met before, and solicitations to purchase and forward gift cards.
For more information about the Department's elder justice efforts, visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
To report elder fraud incidents, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311. Additionally, reports can be filed through the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
