Reporting resources to share

Updates on Elder Fraud

While my earlier blog posts were focused on instructional design, I want to repurpose this blog for updates on elder fraud and related scams. There is so much going on in this area that even a newsletter seemed like it would be inefficient. Please share this blog with others who you believe would be interested. You can see my Recognizing and Responding to Elder Fraud training module here. It is free and I encourage you to share it with others.

Reporting frauds and scams is extremely important, and it is important that it be done quickly. Don't mourn your losses and embarrassment for weeks - that is exactly what the bad guys want. Delays in reporting work in their favor. Report the same day you realize you have been a victim of fraud.

Sometimes local, county, and state law enforcement do not respond to assist in cases of fraud. They may take down a report, but it likely goes no further. At a minimum, you should report to the FBI using ic3.gov, to your state's attorney general's office, and probably to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). See our earlier blog article Changing Gears on the FBI's success in recovering some lost funds.

Here are two items to assist you, and we encourage you to share these resources with your local 911 Central Dispatch center. When someone calls 911 and states they have been a victim of fraud, they should be provided a link to this video and the handout to guide them. You are free to download this video and share it. While this video is derived from our training module, it stands on its own and does not require the training module.

Report this crime! Do it quickly, and don't let the bad guys get away with their crime.

Generic 911 Central Dispatch video for victims

Central Dispatch generic handout for fraud victims (Microsoft Word)

Central Dispatch generic handout for fraud victims (PDF)

Central Dispatch generic handout for fraud victims (Text file)