Financial Exploitation
Prevention Efforts
Pennsylvania’s prevention effort has brought together state agencies, advocates for older adults, law enforcement, and topic experts, all working toward developing practical tools to prevent financial exploitation and raise awareness in communities.
The Financial Exploitation Task Force
In response to Governor Wolf's Executive Order on protecting vulnerable populations, the Pennsylvania Department of Aging has released a study on the impact of financial exploitation of older adults in Pennsylvania.
The study reviewed financial exploitation cases in 14 Pennsylvania counties during the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 to examine the types of financial exploitation that occurred, the combined amount lost, and the financial impact of these losses on the victims, the economy and the commonwealth. The study also reviewed financial exploitation studies conducted by three other states, as well as academic literature published on the topic. PA Department of Aging – Financial Exploitation of Older Adults Study Report.
Task Force Recommendations and Goals
The Financial Exploitation Task Force met a total of five times, beginning in December 2020 and concluding in April 2021. Over the course of these meetings, Financial Exploitation Task Force members were provided with information regarding the impact of financial exploitation, testimony from victims’ family members, challenges with information sharing, underreporting, law enforcement and cognitive decline. Members then discussed and outlined barriers to reporting elder financial exploitation and identified potential solutions, recommendations, and action items for stakeholders to pursue moving forward.
The Task Force has made recommendations in four category areas – Education, Training, Operations and Procedures, and Legislative Actions – along with strategies and key Financial Exploitation Task Force member leads needed to implement these objectives. The details of the recommendations can be found in the Financial Exploitation Task Force Recommendations Report.
Task Force Members
Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning
PA Department of Aging (PDA), Chair
PA Department of Human Services (DHS)
PA Department of Health (DOH)
PA Department of Revenue (DOR)
PA Department of State (DOS)
PA Office of Attorney General (OAG)
PA Department of Insurance (PID)
PA Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS)
PA State Police (PSP)
PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA)
PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD)
PA Office of Victim Advocate (OVA)
PA Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR)
AARP Pennsylvania
Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania
PA Association of Area Agencies on Aging (P4A)
SeniorLAW Center
PA Bar Association - Elder Law Section
Cross State Credit Union Association
PA Association of Community Bankers
PA Bankers Association
PA Society of Tax Professionals
Temple University Institute on Protective Services
PA Medical Society
PA Psychological Association
Berks County District Attorney’s Office
University of Pennsylvania, Penn Memory Center and The Penn Program on Precision Medicine for the Brain (P3MB)
PA Institute of Certified Public Accountants
PA Chiefs of Police Association
Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging
Blair County Area Agency on Aging
Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging
PA District Attorneys Association