Julie Miller Talks Financial Fraud at University of Maryland School of Social Work
by Adam Felts
AgeLab Research Scientist Julie Miller co-facilitated a virtual professional development workshop through the University of Maryland School of Social Work and the school’s Financial Social Work Initiative on trends in combating financial fraud among older adults. Dr. Miller facilitated alongside Sue Rogan, AFC, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the CASH Campaign of Maryland, with an audience of social workers and aging service professionals.
Their presentation included a broad overview of the problem of financial fraud among older adults, an explanation of some tools and strategies that social workers can use to help clients who may be vulnerable to financial fraud, scams, and exploitation, and moderated discussion about challenges and opportunities for social workers engaging with this topic.
As part of the workshop, Dr. Miller presented a summary of findings from a session of the AgeLab’s 85+ Lifestyle Leaders Panel on their experiences with financial fraud and exploitation. She reported different stories from the panelists on their experiences with financial fraud, their perceptions of why scammers target older adults, the emotions they felt in association with the experience of being financially exploited, and who they had had conversations with in the past about financial fraud.
Furthermore, Dr. Miller highlighted the need to destigmatize falling victim to scams and fraud, to increase financial and technological literacy among older adults, to better communicate legal protections and community resources, and to promote community-based intervention strategies to protect those vulnerable to exploitation.
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