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Weissberger GH, Lim AC, Mosqueda L, Nguyen AL, Fenton L, Han SD. Subjective Age Moderates the Relationship Between Global Cognition and Susceptibility to Scams. J Appl Gerontol 2024; 43:1033-1041. [PMID: 38323997 DOI: 10.1177/07334648241229879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the interactive effect of subjective age on the relationship between global cognition and susceptibility to scams. Sixty-five participants underwent an assessment of global cognition (Mini Mental State Examination; MMSE), reported their perceived age (i.e., subjective age), and responded to a self-report questionnaire assessing scam susceptibility. A main effect of global cognition on scam susceptibility was found (p = .028); there was no main effect of subjective age (p = .819). An interaction between global cognition and subjective age was found (p = .016). Examination of conditional effects demonstrated that the relationship between cognition and scam susceptibility was not significant amongst those with subjective ages below one standard deviation of the mean, but was significant for those whose subjective ages fell around or above the mean. Findings suggest that individuals with older subjective ages may be particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of lower cognition on scam susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aaron C Lim
- USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura Mosqueda
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA, USA
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura Fenton
- USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - S Duke Han
- USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Alhambra, CA, USA
- USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Giannouli V, Tsolaki M. What goes wrong with the perceptions of elder financial abuse? Data from older adults, healthcare professionals and students from Greece. J Elder Abuse Negl 2023; 35:228-235. [PMID: 38044682 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2023.2291050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
This study examines what healthcare professionals, students and older adults believe about elder financial abuse in Greece. Participants responded to two vignettes by choosing which characteristics indicate elder financial abuse. Greeks are less likely to perceive financial exploitation when the perpetrator is a close family member, but are more likely to recognize it when perpetrated by paid caregivers or more distant (male) relatives. Signing over the victim's property to another is less likely to be perceived as elder abuse than is the taking of money from bank accounts, even though the property is often worth more than what is taken from the account. Although there are some differences in perception between healthcare professionals and others in Greek society, these (and other anomalies) make it difficult to accurately report and prevent elder financial abuse in Greece.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaitsa Giannouli
- School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonike, Greece
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessalonike, Greece
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Lim H, Letkiewicz JC. Consumer Experience of Mistreatment and Fraud in Financial Services: Implications from an Integrative Consumer Vulnerability Framework. JOURNAL OF CONSUMER POLICY 2023; 46:109-135. [PMID: 36776403 PMCID: PMC9897157 DOI: 10.1007/s10603-023-09535-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
This study utilizes the National Financial Well-Being Survey (NFWS) from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to investigate the profiles of American consumers who experience mistreatment or a type of fraud in financial services (compromised accounts). An integrative consumer vulnerability framework was used as the theoretical framework to examine how disadvantaged consumer characteristics and vulnerable consumer characteristics are associated with mistreatment and compromised accounts. Consumers in vulnerable states, due to low financial capability, cognitive decline, material hardships, financial shocks, and more exposure to various financial services, were more likely to report experiencing mistreatment and having their financial accounts compromised. Consumers from higher socio-economic status were more likely to have been victims of mistreatment and compromised accounts in financial services. These findings offer implications for consumer financial education and protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Lim
- Department of Personal Financial Planning, Kansas State University, 343P Justin Hall, 1324 Lovers Lane, Manhattan, KS 66502 USA
| | - J. C. Letkiewicz
- School of Administrative Studies, York University, 4700 Keele St., 204 Atkinson, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada
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Lokanan ME, Sharma K. Fraud prediction using machine learning: The case of investment advisors in Canada. MACHINE LEARNING WITH APPLICATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mlwa.2022.100269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Financial abuse of older people by third parties in banking institutions: a qualitative exploration. AGEING & SOCIETY 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0144686x21001574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Financial abuse is a significant form of elder maltreatment and is frequently ranked in the top two most common forms of abuse perpetration. Despite this, it is under-identified, under-reported and under-prosecuted. Financial institutions, such as banks, are important environments for identifying and responding to the financial abuse of older people. Traditionally, banks have not always been part of inter-sectorial responses to financial abuse, yet are important stakeholders. The aim of this study is to explore perceptions and experiences of financial abuse in five national banks. Data were collected from 20 bank managers and five members of the National Safeguarding Committee in the Republic of Ireland. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: defining a vulnerable adult; cases of financial abuse of vulnerable adults; case responses to financial abuse of vulnerable adults; and contextual issues. The data demonstrate the multiplicity of manifestations and the complexity of case investigation and management. Findings point to the need to enhance banks’ responses, through additional education and training, and promote integrated inter-sectorial collaboration. In addition, a change in societal beliefs is needed regarding financial entitlement, responding to ageism, public awareness of the consequences of financial decisions and types of financial abuse, as well as ensuring such crimes are addressed within the legal system.
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Lokanan M, Liu S. Predicting Fraud Victimization Using Classical Machine Learning. ENTROPY 2021; 23:e23030300. [PMID: 33802314 PMCID: PMC7999579 DOI: 10.3390/e23030300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protecting financial consumers from investment fraud has been a recurring problem in Canada. The purpose of this paper is to predict the demographic characteristics of investors who are likely to be victims of investment fraud. Data for this paper came from the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada’s (IIROC) database between January of 2009 and December of 2019. In total, 4575 investors were coded as victims of investment fraud. The study employed a machine-learning algorithm to predict the probability of fraud victimization. The machine learning model deployed in this paper predicted the typical demographic profile of fraud victims as investors who classify as female, have poor financial knowledge, know the advisor from the past, and are retired. Investors who are characterized as having limited financial literacy but a long-time relationship with their advisor have reduced probabilities of being victimized. However, male investors with low or moderate-level investment knowledge were more likely to be preyed upon by their investment advisors. While not statistically significant, older adults, in general, are at greater risk of being victimized. The findings from this paper can be used by Canadian self-regulatory organizations and securities commissions to inform their investors’ protection mandates.
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Dion S, Gogia K, Elman A, Clark S, Ulrey P, Connolly MT, Lewis S, LoFaso VM, Lachs MS, Wartell J, Rosen T. Developing a rigorous, systematic methodology to identify and categorize elder mistreatment in criminal justice data. J Elder Abuse Negl 2020; 32:27-45. [PMID: 32151210 DOI: 10.1080/08946566.2020.1733725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Elder mistreatment is complex, with cases typically requiring integrated responses from social services, medicine, civil law, and criminal justice. Only limited research exists describing elder mistreatment prosecution and its impact. Researchers have not yet examined administrative prosecutorial data to explore mistreatment response, and no standardized analytic approach exists. We developed a rigorous, systematic methodologic approach to identify elder mistreatment cases in prosecutorial data from cases of crimes against victims aged ≥60. To do so, we operationalized elements of the accepted definition of elder mistreatment, including expectation of trust and vulnerability. We also designed an approach to categorize elder mistreatment cases, using the types of charges filed, into: financial exploitation, physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal/emotional/psychological abuse, and neglect. This standardized methodological approach to identify and categorize elder mistreatment cases in prosecution data is an important preliminary step in analyzing this potentially untapped source of useful information about mistreatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dion
- College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kriti Gogia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alyssa Elman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sunday Clark
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Page Ulrey
- Economic Crimes Unit, King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marie-Therese Connolly
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Stuart Lewis
- School of Medicine, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Veronica M LoFaso
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark S Lachs
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Julie Wartell
- Department of Urban Studies and Planning, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Tony Rosen
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
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DeLiema M. Elder Fraud and Financial Exploitation: Application of Routine Activity Theory. THE GERONTOLOGIST 2018; 58:706-718. [PMID: 28329818 PMCID: PMC6044329 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnw258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives Elder financial exploitation, committed by individuals in positions of trust, and elder fraud, committed by predatory strangers, are two forms of financial victimization that target vulnerable older adults. This study analyzes differences between fraud and financial exploitation victims and tests routine activity theory as a contextual model for victimization. Routine activity theory predicts that criminal opportunities arise when a motivated offender and suitable target meet in the absence of capable guardians. Research Design and Methods Fifty-three financial exploitation and fraud cases were sampled from an elder abuse forensic center. Data include law enforcement and caseworker investigation reports, victim medical records, perpetrator demographic information, and forensic assessments of victim health and cognitive functioning. Results Fraud and financial exploitation victims performed poorly on tests of cognitive functioning and financial decision making administered by a forensic neuropsychologist following the allegations. Based on retrospective record review, there were few significant differences in physical health and cognitive functioning at the time victims' assets were taken, although their social contexts were different. Significantly more fraud victims were childless compared with financial exploitation victims. Fraud perpetrators took advantage of elders when they had no trustworthy friends or relatives to safeguard their assets. Discussion and Implications Findings support an adapted routine activity theory as a contextual model for financial victimization. Fraud most often occurred when a vulnerable elder was solicited by a financial predator in the absence of capable guardians. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing social isolation to enhance protection.
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Jackson SL. A Systematic Review of Financial Exploitation Measures in Prevalence Studies. J Appl Gerontol 2016; 37:1150-1188. [PMID: 27231244 DOI: 10.1177/0733464816650801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The financial exploitation of older adults has garnered the attention of society as well as state and federal governments in a way that elder abuse has never been able to achieve. It is frequently asserted that financial exploitation deserves this attention in part because it is the most prevalent form of elder abuse. This article systematically reviews the measurement of financial exploitation in comparison with other forms of elder abuse and concludes that its measurement is considerably more variable than other forms of abuse. Consequently, improvements in the measurement of financial exploitation are warranted.
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Jackson SL. All Elder Abuse Perpetrators Are Not Alike: The Heterogeneity of Elder Abuse Perpetrators and Implications for Intervention. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2016; 60:265-285. [PMID: 25326465 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x14554063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The tendency to label all elder abuse perpetrators as the "bad guys" has diminished our ability to respond effectively. A review of the literature demonstrates that elder abuse perpetrators are in fact heterogeneous with important differences across types of abuse. A reformulation of perpetrator interventions away from a singular emphasis on prosecution to meaningful alternatives that utilize criminal justice and/or therapeutic approaches tailored to the needs of the case is needed. These interventions must incorporate the needs of both victims and perpetrators, take into consideration the type of abuse involved, acknowledge the variations in perpetrator culpability, and recognize the continuum of complexity among these cases. Without addressing these nuances, intervention and prevention efforts will be futile if not harmful.
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The shifting conceptualization of elder abuse in the United States: from social services, to criminal justice, and beyond. Int Psychogeriatr 2016; 28:1-8. [PMID: 26282012 DOI: 10.1017/s1041610215001271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
A variety of forces have shifted the conceptualization of elder abuse over time to where it is almost unrecognizable when compared to its original conceptualization. The field has adopted or embraced whatever social problem is in vogue in an attempt to elevate elder abuse to a recognizable social problem that to date has eluded the field. This paper traces the various influences on the shifting conceptualizations of elder abuse and how those conceptualizations have shaped society's response. The paper concludes by suggesting that multiple conceptualizations can and must co-exist, a framework which is consistent with the multidisciplinary team approach becoming prevalent in the field.
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