“Our office takes seriously the duty to protect Kansas senior citizens from fraud and abuse,” Schmidt said. “These new tools will build on the record financial recoveries our Consumer Protection Division has obtained in recent years and will allow the state to go further and put con artists who prey on Kansas seniors behind bars.”
The bill’s sponsors said it gives law enforcement another tool to protect older residents. Elder financial abuse spans a broad spectrum of conduct, including:
- Taking money or property;
- Forging a senior’s signature;
- Getting an aged person to sign a deed, will, or power of attorney through deception, coercion, or undue influence;
- Using an aged person’s property or possessions without permission;
- Promising lifelong care in exchange for money or property and not following through on the promise;
- Confidence crimes (“cons”) or scams using deception to gain senior’s confidence;
- Fraud is the use of deception, trickery, false pretence, or dishonest acts or statements for financial gain; and
- Telemarketing scams where perpetrators call seniors and use deception, scare tactics, or exaggerated claims to get them to send money.
This list isn’t exhaustive. If you need help, contact an elder law attorney.
