Elderly  Abuse  Report	Safeguarding  your finances	Elderly Abuse  & Exploitation
Across the nation, senior citizens are all too often the victims of financial exploitation. Unscrupulous individuals who perpetrate sweepstakes fraud, home repair fraud, telemarketing fraud, and insurance and investment frauds often target the elderly. Sadly, even family members and caretakers sometimes view seniors as easy prey. Historically, there have been few resources specially designated for the detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes of a financial nature against seniors who live in the community, and that is where most of the crimes involving financial exploitation occur. To address this gap in service, the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Project was created in 1995. Retired police officers were hired to act as a liaison between the social service agencies for seniors, the law enforcement community and my office. This brochure is intended to explain the Elder Abuse and Exploitation Project and provide contact information for resources should you or someone you know need our assistance. My office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who would take advantage of our senior citizens. Please do not hesitate to contact my office if you suspect that you, or someone you care about, is being harmed by abuse or neglect or is being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous individual. Regards, Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III

The Elderly Abuse and Exploitation Project is part of the State Department of Justice, Fraud and Consumer Protection Division. The project focuses on protecting Delaware's older citizens from fraud and exploitation through public education, as well as investigation and prosecution of exploitation cases. 

WHAT IS THE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ELDERLY ABUSE UNIT?

• To focus on protecting Delaware's older citizens from fraud and exploitation, through public education, as well as investigation and prosecution of exploitation cases.
• To assist in the investigation with other law enforcement agencies in elderly abuse cases.
• To investigate case referred by adult protective service and any other agencies. The case would be of a complex nature of financial exploitation of the elderly abuse.
• To present case of financial exploitation of the elderly for prosecution.
• To train other law enforcement agencies in the state of Delaware on the identification of Elderly Abuse, first contact.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SPOT ELDERLY ABUSE OR FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION?

If you believe that you are a victim of Financial Exploitation or you suspect that someone you know is a victim of Financial Exploitation, contact one of the following agencies immediately:

• Delaware Department of Justice, Fraud and Consumer Protection Division,
  Elderly Abuse and Exploitation Project,
  820 N French Street
  Wilmington DE 19801
  302-577-8508
  Kent & Sussex County
  302-739-4211
• Division of Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities, New Castle County
  302-453-3820
  Kent & Sussex County
  302-422-1386
• Division of Long-term care (if the person is in licensed health care facility)
  877-453-0012
• Local Police Agency