Q: What should my grandmother do now that she's been scammed out of thousands of dollars by a "friend"?
The amount ranges from 15k to 20k. The fraudster lives in CT and my grandmother lives MA and she refuses to divulge any information.
A:
There are a number of options available to your grandmother. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Title II, Chap. 19A, financial exploitation is defined as "an act or omission by another person, which causes a substantial monetary or property loss to an elderly person, or causes a substantial monetary or property gain to the other person, which gain would otherwise benefit the elderly person but for the act or omission of such other person."
Adult Protective Services in your grandmother's area can initiate an investigation. A confidential report may be submitted online at https://www.gsssi.org/adult-protective-services or by phone at 1-800-922-2275.
If there is sufficient evidence (bank statements, letters, contracts, receipts of any kind), your grandmother may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the suspect. This may involve arbitration or litigation to recover any money that may have been taken. You will want to begin looking for a local attorney of your choice in Massachusetts that handles elder abuse cases. Depending on the situation and the condition of your grandmother, you may want to discuss obtaining a Power of Attorney to assist your grandmother with financial matters going forward. The attorney you choose will assist you in that matter as well.
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