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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
ERIC F. RINEHART
STATE'S ATTORNEY
June 15, 2021
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Newton
(224) 374-2376
jnewton@lakecountyil.gov
State's Attorney's Office Volunteers Active Across Lake County on Elder Abuse Awareness Day
State's Attorney Eric Rinehart delivers new pamphlets for seniors to Azpira Place of Lake Zurich Tuesday, in recognition of Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
(Lake County, IL) - State’s Attorney’s Office employees volunteered to blanket much of Lake County Tuesday to distribute thousands of pamphlets, designed to explain scams targeting elders, to over 30 senior living facilities and senior centers to honor Elder Abuse Awareness Day.
The newly-produced pamphlets provide information on in-person, telephone and online scams targeting seniors, how to avoid them, tips for keeping your home safe, and contact information for senior service agencies and law enforcement.
The outreach efforts were led by the State’s Attorney’s Senior Advocacy Committee, which is comprised of several community members including owners of local caregiving agencies, victim-witness advocates, and estate-planning lawyers.
Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Berrill is a co-chair of the longstanding committee, and leads prosecution of these crimes as part of the office’s Cyber Crimes Unit. Berrill works with Co-Chair Mike Steiner, who operates an in-home living assistance company, Right At Home, located in Grayslake.
Berrill said one of the most important things seniors can do to avoid scams is to remember an often-cited warning that applies to everyone. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” he said.
Phone scams are one of the most often-used tools by criminals to separate victims from their money. Scammers may pretend to be police officials calling about outstanding tickets or warrants, IRS agents warning you about tax or unemployment issues, or be representatives of major retail outlets that say the store accidentally over-charged them.
“A government agency would never call and threaten you or ask for money,” Berrill said. He suggested that all such requests be denied and immediately reported to the police. Seniors are also advised by advocates and law enforcement to never let an unknown caller take control of their computer remotely.
Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart thanked ASA Berrill and the Senior Advocacy Committee on Tuesday.
“I am so pleased with this committee’s efforts to educate the public this week. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who takes advantage of our senior citizens. It is important that we continue to expand our office’s cyber capabilities in order to fully protect our senior population from the criminals who prey on them with improving technology,” Rinehart said. “I will be asking for additional funding for this in my first budget later this year.”
Senior Advocacy Committee member Tim Rout, a lawyer with Prairie State Legal Services, said he wants to remind seniors to never click links or give information to someone who contacts you, but rather to always call companies directly via a publicly listed phone number before releasing information or clicking links.
Berrill also advises senior to “be alert,” because complete strangers are not the only ones who may try to take advantage of you.
“There are several profiles of financial crimes we deal with, and one is an elder being taken advantage of by family members or caregivers,” he said.
As for physical abuse, Berrill said that can occur both in private homes, as well as health centers and senior living facilities.
One way for seniors and their families to help protect their well-being is to only employ licensed care workers, not temporary workers or unaffiliated, unknown parties. Also, interact only with those you know or trust.
“I can’t believe how many times I have seen stolen checks taken right out of checkbooks by untrustworthy caregivers who then wrote and deposited them into their own accounts,” Berrill said, adding that law enforcement agencies are able to obtain records from banks that show how checks are cashed and by whom.
“It unfairly gives a bad name to the much larger numbers of caregivers who provide great services.”
The State’s Attorney’s Office urges residents to contact their municipal law enforcement agency if they believe they are the target or victim of any abuse or scams. Residents in unincorporated Lake County should call the Sheriff’s Office.
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State's Attorney's Office intern Michael Chen helps bundle and pass out thousands of pamphlets entitled "Seniors: Don't Get Scammed" to employee volunteers who are distributing them to communities throughout Lake County on Tuesday. |
Lake County State's Attorney's Office
18 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Phone: (847) 377-3000
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