The office of New York’s attorney general announced the launch of the Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation (EIFFE) Prevention Program, which aims to educate doctors who treat older patients frequently about the risks of investment fraud to their patients.
The program is designed to help medical professionals understand what elder investment fraud is, how to recognize when their patients may be victims of fraud, and how to report suspected fraud. “Doctors will learn how to identify and understand mild cognitive impairment, which can make seniors particularly vulnerable to fraud,” New York’s attorney general office says.
“Older adults are at heightened risk of being victimized by financial fraud, and doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals can play a vital role by identifying potential fraud and abuse,” said state attorney general, Eric Schneiderman, in a statement. “By learning about elder investment fraud, medical professionals can enhance the care they already provide to their patients.”
In addition, the attorney general’s Investor Protection Bureau will explain to medical professionals some of the most common scams that can affect vulnerable adults; how to direct their patients to report financial exploitation; and outline the role of the attorney general’s office in prosecuting securities fraud.
The Investor Protection Trust and the Baylor College of Medicine, in collaboration with the North American Securities Administrators Association and the National Adult Protective Services Association, created the EIFFE program.