Open AccessPrevalence of Financial Fraud and Scams Among Older Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Author(s) -
David Burnes,
Charles Henderson,
Christine Sheppard,
Rebecca Zhao,
Karl Pillemer,
Mark S. Lachs
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of public health (1971)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2017.303821
Subject(s) - psycinfo , meta analysis , elder abuse , generalizability theory , population , criminal justice , medline , finance , medicine , public health , family medicine , gerontology , psychology , poison control , suicide prevention , environmental health , business , criminology , political science , law , nursing , developmental psychology
The financial exploitation of older adults was recently recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a serious public health problem. Knowledge of the prevalence of elder financial exploitation is mostly limited to the category of financial abuse, which occurs in relationships involving an expectation of trust. Little is known about the other major category of elder financial exploitation-elder financial fraud and scams, which is perpetrated by strangers. A valid estimate of elder financial fraud-scam prevalence is necessary as a foundation for research and prevention efforts.