Local law enforcement urges vigilance against scams on Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Monday is Elder Abuse Awareness Day and agencies across Mississippi are reminding seniors and their families to stay vigilant against scams and exploitation.
WXXV News 25’s Everett Ganier Jr. spoke with Biloxi Police about common warning signs and what older adults need to know to stay safe.
Elder abuse can take many forms, including physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation. On Elder Abuse Awareness Day, law enforcement agencies are encouraging seniors to stay informed and speak up if something doesn’t seem right. Lt. Matthew Jalanivich with Biloxi PD Investigations said, “They’re unable to protect themselves in some instances. So, if you can help them and report things for them. They might not know exactly how to go about things or which avenue to take. So, we can help them by getting them to those avenues. Good for you to report that so we can report that and so we can investigate it and make sure they’re not getting taken advantage of in any way.”
Some of the most common scams involve callers pretending to be government agencies, tech support representatives, or even family members claiming to be in an emergency. “Scams are really big right now. It’s usually internet and computer scams where they tell you that they are holding something against you and wants you to deposit a large sum of money into a bitcoin machine or send it via Western Union somewhere. Trust that some of these things might not be what they are and verify what you’re doing. If you have family members that are having some odd bank transactions, it’d be good for you to look into those to see what’s going on with them. If they are not getting scammed by someone else and it’s usually anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to very large sums of money.”
Officials also encourage seniors to advocate for themselves by staying connected with friends and family and reporting suspicious activity as soon as possible. “To me, beyond being a police officer, just being a good human. They were the people here before us. They are the ones that raised us. They are the ones who put everything in place for us. So, we got to take care of them as they get later in life and that way the next generation will be taking care of us.”
Anyone who suspects elder abuse or believes they have been targeted by a scam is encouraged to contact local law enforcement or adult protective services. Reporting concerns early can help prevent further harm.
