June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and this month's article focuses on raising awareness now and why it matters so much. Older adults have spent a lifetime building their financial security, and safeguarding that hard‑earned stability is essential to their independence, dignity, and well‑being. By shining a light on the risks, sharing practical tools, and strengthening protections, we can help ensure they’re not navigating these threats alone. 

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month:
Help Protect the Financial Well Being of Older Adults

Each June, Elder Abuse Awareness Month reminds us of an important truth: financial exploitation is one of the fastest‑growing forms of elder abuse, and it affects families in every community. At <FINANCIAL_INSTITUTION>, we’re committed to helping protect older adults from fraud, scams, and financial harm. Safeguarding your hard‑earned money is at the heart of what we do.

A Growing Threat to Older Adults

Recent federal reports show a sharp rise in scams targeting adults aged sixty and older. Losses of more than $100,000 have increased dramatically in recent years according to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with scammers often posing as trusted institutions, including banks, government agencies, technology companies, or even the FTC itself. These criminals use fear, urgency, and sophisticated stories to pressure older adults into sending money or sharing sensitive information.

Common tactics include:

• Fake alerts claiming that someone is using your accounts.

• Imposters pretending that your Social Security number is linked to a crime.

• Pop‑up “security warnings” urging you to call a fake support line.

• “Emergency” phone calls designed to keep you talking so that you are unable to verify the story with a loved one.

Understanding these tactics is the first step in stopping them.

How You Can Help Protect Yourself and Loved Ones

A few simple habits can make a meaningful difference:

• Pause before acting on urgent messages. Scammers rely on panic. A legitimate organization will never pressure you to act immediately.

• Never move money to “protect it.” No bank, government agency, or tech company will ever ask you to transfer funds, buy cryptocurrency, or hand over cash to keep it “safe.”

• Verify independently. Hang up and call the organization using a phone number you know is real—not one provided in a message or pop‑up.

• Limit what you share online. Personal details can help scammers impersonate you or guess security answers.

• Check your accounts regularly. Early detection is one of the strongest defenses against fraud.

• Talk openly with older family members. Conversations about the reality of fraud and scams can prevent devastating losses.

Our Commitment to You

We work every day to help protect your financial security through monitoring, education, and security tools. But awareness is one of the most powerful protections of all. This month (and every month) we encourage you to stay informed, stay cautious, and stay connected with the people you trust.

If something doesn’t feel right, pause and reach out. We’re here to help you navigate concerns, verify information, and keep your accounts safe. Our staff is trained to recognize signs of financial abuse. If you suspect an older adult in your life has fallen victim to a scam or identity theft, contact us. Call us at <FINANCIAL_INSTITUTION_PHONE> or visit your nearest branch for confidential support. [Personalize this section to reflect benefits included in your Econocheck Program] As an account holder with an <EMBEDDED_ACCOUNT> account, you have access to identity theft recovery services for up to three generations of your family, including your parents.