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Press Release
Today, U.S. Attorney Brandon J. Fremin joined Attorney General William P. Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our country and the world, but among those most severely affected by the threat of the novel virus are our senior citizens. During this time when seniors are most vulnerable and isolated from their families and loved ones by social distancing and quarantine restrictions, bad actors have immediately exploited this international tragedy to prey on the elderly through a whole host of scam and fraud schemes. As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of Justice remains relentlessly committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors.
The Department will aggressively prosecute fraudsters exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic and targeting seniors offering them fake testing kits and fake help obtaining stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program Funds. On this day dedicated to recognizing our seniors, the Department of Justice sends a strong message that we continue the fight to keep seniors safe a top priority.
U.S. Attorney Fremin stated, “Raised in large part by my grandparents, I understand how important our seniors are and the value they add to our communities. They should be respected and revered, not targeted. Whether criminals use the COVID pandemic or seek to enrich themselves by taking advantage of a lifetime of hard work and savings, those who target our elders should know I will use every resource available to the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”
Earlier this year Attorney General Barr declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities.
Major strides have already been made to that end:
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.