The Silver Life - Online community and resource for active Silver Surfers

Online Community & Resource for Active Silver Surfers

The Silver Life

Online Community & Resource for Active Silver Surfers

Senior fraud: Do we need more laws? Nope!

Elder fraud: What can you do?Elder fraud: What to do if you've been scammed
Email ScamsDon’t be a sucker! Stay off the S*it List!

A fresh perspective on senior fraud

A client posed this thought-provoking question: Are the laws are strong enough to control elder fraud? Do we need more laws?

My typical reply would be, of course! We need much stronger laws and legislation to stop this epidemic.

As I thought more about this, I changed my mind.

We have strong legislation on the books. There are severe penalties for committing elder fraud, and the courts are imposing jail time for these crimes.

Then, what do we need to battle the fraudsters, scammers, grifters and what our parents used to call, “flim flam artists?” If my thinking is correct, I believe what we need is more public awareness.

So what does that mean? Where do we share this awareness? We can start by free programs at schools, places of worship, or any location where a group of dedicated people want to impart their knowledge and experience to an audience that will listen.

It could start right here with this blog post – or the series of posts that I’ve already developed on the topic.

We don’t need trial studies and years of research and investigation by the Food and Drug Administration to eradicate this epidemic. What we need are people to talk. And people to listen.

Call me old-fashioned, but I believe that one-to-one communication is what’s needed to drive change.

This is happening, but not fast enough. We need more. We need people who are unafraid to tell their story, because that’s what will truly make a difference. Fraud support groups help to get the word out, and educate… educate… and educate!

More laws? No, I don’t think so! We have plenty! We just need to talk about it to anyone who listen – and then educate.

Take my advice for what it is…It’s Just, AS I SEE IT!

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About the Author: Leonard F. Baer

Leonard Baer's practice focuses on Elder Law, and Estate Planning. His previous experience was in the area of complex criminal litigation, serving as Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Division for The United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida. Mr. Baer was recognized by the Office of The Attorney General, as one of the top prosecutors in the country during his tenure. He has been included in North Carolina Top Rated Lawyers, a distinction awarded to those lawyers recognized by their colleagues as leaders in their field. He has also been recognized by the Florida Bar, for his efforts in representing seniors and their families, who are victims of scams and fraud. Mr. Baer is an AV rated lawyer listed in Martindale-Hubbell, and has been selected for inclusion in their Bar Registrar of Preeminent Lawyers, which for over 90 years, includes only those select law practices that have earned their highest rating. He has been designated by Martindale-Hubbell as preeminent in his field, and in the top 5% of all lawyers practicing in the United States. Mr. Baer has also been ranked by AVVO, an online Legal Directory of over 200,000 lawyers nationally, as Superb, their highest rating. He served as adjunct professor of Sports Law at The University of Miami, and is a frequent lecturer on the topics of Elder Law, Estate Planning, Asset Protection and Fraud Protection. He has been a columnist for several newspapers for over 13 years and currently has a nationally syndicated blog, “As I See It” with a readership of over 25,000. Leonard is a Guest Contributor of The Silver Life and has recently launched a new service called SuddenlySolo1 - https://www.legalbaer.com/services/suddenly-solo/

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