Tag: elder financial abuse

Wall Street Journal Cites Tips from McManus for Avoiding and Properly Handling Sweetheart Scams

wsj logoWall Street Journal Columnist Veronica Dagher penned a new article this week, “How to Avoid, Detect and Respond to Romance Scams.” The piece provides steps that readers can take to protect themselves (and their parents) from these fraudulent attacks, as well as things to do if the swindling has, unfortunately, already taken place.

As revealed by Dagher, so-called sweetheart scams cost victims nearly $120 million in the first half of 2016, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. How are these criminals finding success? “The fraudsters are ‘very adept at playing on the vulnerability of human emotions’…With some senior citizens, they are also playing on a lack of tech savvy.”

Dagher buckets the steps to avoid and address these scams, as follows:

1)      Check the Connection

2)      Check In With Your Parents

3)      Check the Pressure

4)      Report It

McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus is cited and quoted in the “Check In With Your Parents” and “Report It” sections. From the article:

“Stay in touch and call your parents often so that they don’t become vulnerable to scammers,” says John McManus, an attorney in New Providence, N.J., who has helped several senior citizens who were victims of fraud…If your parents do fall victim to a scam, show compassion, says Mr. McManus. Help them keep their dignity and understand that anyone can be wrongly manipulated at any age, he says.

Wall Street Journal Shares Guidance from McManus in “Wealth Report”

The Wall Street Journal “Wealth Report” recently published a story by Veronica Dagher titled “When an Elderly Parent Has Been Scammed.” The article outlines key steps for an adult child to take if he/she expects that a parent or loved one is the victim of elder financial abuse. McManus & Associates Founding Principal John O. McManus is quoted throughout the piece.

At the outset of the article, Dagher helps readers understand both the obstacles that they’re likely to encounter when trying to help an elderly loved one who has been scammed and the typical feelings of the victim. Empathy and patience are key.