Laslovich Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, Montana 2024

BILLINGS — U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, joins national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing Saturday, June 15, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Laslovich emphasized the importance of awareness and education.

“Our office is committed to preventing abuse and neglect of older adults, and to prosecuting those who try to take advantage of them, whether physically, psychologically, or financially. I urge everyone to help us stop this abuse by checking in on older adults who may have few friends or family members, watching for unusual financial transactions, and reporting abuse or suspected abuse to local adult protective services, long-term care ombudsmen, or law enforcement,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently prosecuted and convicted individuals in two cases involving elderly victims. In one case, a daughter was sentenced to prison for stealing more than $700,000 from her elderly mother while serving as her caregiver. In another case, two men were sentenced to prison for their role in an India-based computer hacking scam that targeted elderly victims nationwide and stole $150,000 from a Kalispell woman.

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

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