Scams and Fraud: Emotional Impact and Recovery

The impact of fraud and scams is generally described by highlighting the amount of money transmitted from victims to perpetrators. That financial loss, even when it is devastating, only illuminates one piece of victims’ experiences. This session discusses how to identify the emotional toll taken by fraud, the range of emotions experienced by victims both immediately after the victimization and over time, and steps a service provider or advocate can be taken to improve the wellbeing of older fraud victims. We also confront, although we don’t promise to completely answer, the question of what can be done when victims are reluctant to believe they are on fraudsters’ hook. The presentation addresses how we talk about fraud and why some of the common language describing fraud can inadvertently harm victims, including by implying they are to blame for failing to identify the fraud, and our collective fraud fighting efforts, including by implying only certain people are vulnerable to fraud.
This webinar is the third session in a four-part series on fraud and scams. You need not watch every part of the series, please join us for some or all! You can view session one, “Fraud Pitches: Why They Work and What You Can Do About It,” at: • Fraud Pitches: Why Th... . You can view session two, “Reporting and Recovering Funds,” at • Scams and Fraud Webina... . Be watching for our final session on resources and prevention, which is slated for December.
Speakers:
Ali Chiu, Lead Supervisor of Consultative Services, Elder Abuse Prevention (EAP), Institute on Aging
Rachel Gibson, M.S., Director, Center for Victim Service Professionals, The National Center for Victims of Crime
Lauren Vumbaco, U.S. Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service