In a recent announcement, U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi and U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg revealed that the Justice Department is intensifying its efforts to protect seniors from fraudulent schemes. This initiative comes in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
Attorney General Bondi stated, “Prosecutors across the country are stepping up the fight against malicious schemes that target older Americans.” She emphasized collaboration with both domestic and international law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.
U.S. Attorney Hertzberg affirmed the commitment of his office to prosecute fraudsters targeting elderly citizens, stating, “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to bring opportunistic scammers to justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office employs a two-pronged strategy: prosecuting criminals involved in elder fraud and engaging with community groups for educational outreach on preventing such scams.
Common elder fraud schemes include romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support scams, and grandparent scams. These tactics often deceive victims into parting with their money under false pretenses.
Recent prosecutions have seen significant outcomes. In U.S. v. Parikh et al., Pradip Parikh and Alpesh Patel were convicted for laundering proceeds from an Indian call center scam targeting seniors by posing as government officials.
Another case, U.S. v. Young et al., involved Rederic Young and Randolph Leggs pleading guilty to bank fraud related to a retirement account takeover scheme.
Outreach efforts include participation in an Elder Abuse Training event for law enforcement on June 11, 2025, attended by over 125 individuals from various agencies.
The National Elder Fraud Hotline remains a vital resource for seniors experiencing financial fraud, offering assistance in multiple languages Monday through Friday.
For more information on these initiatives or to report elder fraud complaints, resources are available through the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative webpage and other associated platforms.
