AARP Maryland pushes anti-fraud vigilance on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

AARP Maryland is using World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to warn older adults, families, and financial institutions about rising fraud and financial exploitation in Maryland. The group is also highlighting a June 18 free shred event and new state protections passed in 2026. Why it matters: - Fraud and financial exploitation can drain savings, damage independence, and leave older adults at greater risk of harm. - Maryland reported 111,041 consumers losing $198.9 million to fraud in 2024, according to the Federal Trade Commission. - Common scams in Maryland included credit bureaus and information furnishers, identity theft, and impostor scams. What happened: - AARP Maryland teamed with the Baltimore County Department of Aging on June 15, 2026, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, to spotlight abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older people. - AARP Maryland is co-hosting a free shred event with the Baltimore County Department of Aging on June 18 to help residents protect themselves from identity theft. - Kathy Lewis, interim state director of AARP Maryland, said protecting older adults requires people to pay attention, speak up, and take action. The details: - World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is observed each year on June 15. - The global observance aims to raise awareness of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older people and strengthen protections that help them live with dignity, safety, and respect. - AARP Maryland urged families, caregivers, financial institutions, and community members to learn fraud warning signs, talk regularly about scam prevention, and report suspected abuse. - Warning signs include sudden changes in banking activity, pressure to act quickly or in secrecy, requests for unusual payments, and efforts to isolate an older person from trusted relatives or advisors. - During the 2026 legislative session, AARP Maryland backed new protections against elder financial abuse. - The Vulnerable Adult Banking Protection Act allows bank and credit union personnel to place a hold on suspicious transactions involving older customers when fraud is suspected. - Criminal Law-Benefits Exploitation creates penalties for people who take someone’s government benefits for their own use or for someone else’s use. Between the lines: - The Maryland fraud numbers suggest elder scam prevention is part of a broader consumer-protection problem, not an isolated issue. - The new state laws shift some prevention responsibilities to financial institutions and add criminal consequences for benefits theft. - Public awareness efforts like shred events can help, but the warning signs point to scams that often rely on secrecy, urgency, and social isolation. What’s next: - AARP Maryland is encouraging ongoing conversations about scam prevention among families and community members. - Residents can look for additional fraud-prevention outreach tied to elder abuse awareness and state-level protections. - AARP Maryland directs people to learn more .