U.S. Attorney’s Office Releases Public Service Announcement for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

New Haven – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut has released a public service announcement to draw attention to the abuse and neglect affecting older people, and to ask the public to assist law enforcement in preventing elder fraud and abuse.

The public service announcement is available here:

“One in 10 people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, and the AARP has reported that an estimated $28.3 billion is lost to elder fraud scams each year,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery.  “While my office and the Department of Justice are committed to prosecuting those who abuse the elderly, particularly by financial exploitation, we need help from the public.  Please report suspected elder abuse to the police or by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).  Together we can better protect the older adults in our lives, and bring to justice those who do them harm.”

Additional information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is charged with enforcing federal criminal laws in Connecticut and representing the federal government in civil litigation.  The Office is composed of approximately 68 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 57 staff members at offices in New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford.