Protect Week again highlights the scourge of elder financial abuse in Maryland

June 12th through the 16th is this year’s “Protect Week”. And, both consumer-groups and government-agencies, statewide, are reminding Marylanders that seniors are vulnerable to financial abuse—by loved-ones and strangers, alike. Hank Greenberg is the state-director of “A-A-R-P Maryland”—which helps lead the coalition… “The ‘Federal Trade Commission’ says that Maryland had more than 40-thousand fraud-reports, last year—up from about 25-thousand, just five years ago. What’s more, last year’s fraud-related losses within Maryland totaled over 130-million dollars. Now, the warning-signs of financial abuse can include things like a caregiver or family-member who suddenly requests access to your loved-one’s accounts or possessions. Or, it could be changes in their financial practices, such as a new credit-card or unopened bank-statements—and a financial agent who isn’t following their wishes.” During “Protect Week”, the coalition will hold several free, online events for the public. To learn more, visit “a-a-r-p”-dot-org-slash-“m-d”.