Coalition Launches New Screening Tools to Protect Senior Veterans From Financial Abuse

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 9 -- The California Department of Insurance issued the following news release:

The San Francisco Veterans Benefits Protection Project (VBPP), a coalition of California consumer protection agencies committed to fighting pension poaching scams targeting senior veterans, is rolling out new screening tools and training to protect senior veterans from financial abuse.

Criminals often target senior veterans with financial scams and often seniors don't know where to turn for reliable advice. The screening tools were developed to start a discussion between the provider and client, detect scams earlier, and gather information to identify trends of seminars, including geographic areas where veterans are particularly afflicted and specific scammers who are committing multiple offenses. This tool will make it easier for those providing veterans with direct services to identify potential financial scams that have been perpetrated against veterans and report specific details about what occurred to enforcement agencies such as the Department of Insurance, Attorney General's office, and district attorney's offices throughout the state.

VBPP launched in 2016 in response to the devastating form of senior financial abuse where financial predators were targeting veterans by selling unsuitable deferred annuities and dangerous irrevocable living trusts in order to qualify the veterans for government benefits. This pension poaching threatens the financial well-being of thousands of senior veterans across the country, despite recent legislation in California and other states to rein in the worst practices.

"Protecting those who served our country from financial scams is one of the most important things we do," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "Our department is committed to working with other California agencies to educate veterans and proud to be a part of a coalition dedicated to fighting pension poaching scams and protecting senior veterans across the state."

The purpose of these screening tools is to gather more detailed information in order to determine whether a senior veteran has been contacted by a pension poacher or other kind of scammer and to help identify any suspicious financial activity. This information is important because it can help identify possible scams aimed at taking unfair advantage of senior veterans or their spouses who are considering applying for Aid and Attendance benefits.

Since its inception, VBPP has conducted 14 local, state, and national trainings to over 725 individuals and notified and trained administrators at all licensed residential care facilities and senior centers in San Francisco. In August, the coalition received a 2017 Aging Innovation Award from the National Association of Area Agencies for Aging (n4a) for its efforts to prevent and combat senior abuse.

"We are proud to be rolling out our next phase of prevention and response through the screening tools we developed," said Assistant Director of Senior Abuse Prevention Tamari Hedani at the Institute on Aging. "Thanks to the dedication of all our stakeholders, the training we will do throughout the state to implement the tools is comprehensive and will improve detection of financial abuse to better protect veterans and strengthen the response by enforcement agencies."

The goals of VBPP are to develop a strong, collaborative communication system to respond to complaints, detect fraud, and stop scammers. Together this coalition educates seniors, family members, and professionals about pension poaching scams, including how to avoid them, and where to go for help. It also connects seniors who wish to apply for veterans' benefits to the local County Veterans Service Office. These preventive efforts can streamline coordination between city and state departments to more effectively respond to pension poaching scams and stop further damage to veterans' finances.

The award-winning coalition, led by the Institute on Aging's Senior Abuse Prevention Program and funded by San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services, brings together a variety of organizations, including the California Department of Insurance, Office of the Attorney General, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, San Francisco Adult Protective Services, San Francisco County Veterans Service Office, San Francisco Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission, and the National Center on Senior Abuse to educate and protect senior veterans.

This document was posted showing the date: Nov. 8, 2017.