Immigrants by the numbers

ALBANY – With thousands of older New Yorkers losing more than $200 million a year to scams, AARP New York is calling on legislative leaders to join Gov. Kathy Hochul to include consumer protections in a final state budget to combat an ever-growing problem of elder financial fraud in New York state.

A coalition – the state Legislature’s Aging Committee chairs and other members of the Legislature, the Superintendent of the State Police and a credit union industry security expert –highlighted the elder financial fraud crisis in the state during a news conference at the State Capitol.

More than 4,300 New Yorkers aged 60 and older lost a total of $203,437,635 in 2023, the fourth highest of any state, according to an FBI report released last year. That’s $557,000 dollars a day – and $23,200 an hour – lost to financial exploitation. The average loss per victim in 2023 was $47,000.

“These numbers are appalling, and they’re made worse by the fact that so many of the victims are people who worked their whole lives to put aside funds for their retirement only to see much of it – or all of it – stolen through a financial scam,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “Because older New Yorkers have accumulated savings after a lifetime of work, they’re a prime target of scammers who are using increasingly sophisticated methods of gaining access to someone’s bank accounts or other financial resources.

Finkel called on state legislators to address the problem.

“AARP New York is calling on Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to include key fraud prevention measures in the final state budget,” Finkel said. “These safeguards would equip financial institutions to recognize and help shield older New Yorkers from being scammed out of substantial amounts of money.”

She also called for banks to take action to protect their customers.

“Where are financial institutions in helping to stop this crime? The big banks cannot sit idle on the sidelines,” she said. “They need to work with the governor, Legislature and AARP to make sure their own customers have the protections they need. Banks need to get on board.”

The governor’s executive budget includes a crucial safeguard – training bank tellers and employees of financial institutions to identify signs of financial exploitation. These employees could place a hold on a suspicious transaction and refer the matter to law enforcement to allow them to investigate.

One of the most common and devious financial scams targeting older people is the “grandparent scam.” A criminal poses as a relative – usually a grandchild – asking for money, stating they are in an emergency. The older adult in many instances will go to their bank to withdraw cash to help the “relative.” Since fraudsters often ask to be paid via cash, gift cards or money transfer, which don’t always require identification to collect, the older adult may have no way of ever recovering their money.  

“I commend AARP for their dogged focus on eradicating elder fraud. It is despicable that our beloved older New Yorkers would be targeted in this way,” State Sen. Cordell Cleare, chair of the Senate Aging Committee, said. “I believe that every proactive solution must be on the table, including legislation I already passed this year establishing the Interagency Elder Justice Task Force.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said law enforcement has seen a substantial jump in the number of scams aimed at older people.

“Our agency has witnessed a significant increase in the number of scams targeting the elderly, which have also become more sophisticated,” James said. “While we diligently investigate each report, by the time we are notified, the money has already changed hands. With this legislation, the financial sector will have the authority to stop or delay payment of funds when fraud is suspected. This will prevent seniors from being stripped of their savings and give law enforcement a better chance of arresting the suspects before they can escape with the stolen money.”

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

GREENVILLE — Santa and Mrs. Claus visited with some of their biggest fans in Greenville.

Traditionally held on the day after Thanksgiving, the Jolly Ol’ Elf’s visit — with the Mrs. — is hosted each year by the Greenville Rotary Club.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived at the gazebo in Veterans’ Memorial Park with the help of their firefighter friends from the Greenville Volunteer Fire Company, who drove the holiday couple in a fire truck with sirens blazing.

After greeting children at the gazebo, singing “Jingle Bells” with the crowd and leading the lighting of the dozens of Christmas trees in the park, the Clauses led kids to nearby Prevost Hall for cookies, photos and raffles for gifts.

“This is their first time here. We are visiting family,” Sandra Cioffi said of her two kids. “They are very excited to see Santa. They have been here to Greenville many times, but we didn’t know this was happening until we got here — the kids are very excited.”

The children’s aunt, local resident Barbara Walter, is a member of Community Partners of Greenville, which is spearheading the renovations of the historic Prevost Hall, where visits with Santa took place. The event was traditionally held at Prevost Hall years ago, but with the renovations and recent reopening of the building, this was the first time Santa made his visit to Prevost Hall in some time.

“We have had other events here in Prevost Hall recently, such as concerts on rainy days during the summer and the Studio Art Tour, where we had art on the walls, but this is the first time we have had an event here in the building with kids in a long time,” Walter said. “It’s great to see them coming here and enjoying Prevost Hall.”

The visit with Santa and tree lighting ceremony are hosted each year by the Greenville Rotary Club.

“It’s been a couple of years since we held this in Prevost Hall,” said Rotarian Deb Smith. “Last year we did it outside — it was freezing — and the year before we didn’t have it at all because of COVID, so this is the first time in this building in years.”

Some 35 free raffle tickets were given out to kids at the start of the program, but no child went away empty handed.

“We have a gift for every single child,” Smith said. “We are also giving out a boys’ bike and a girls’ bike. We have 10 gifts for the raffles, and besides that every child will get a small toy to take home and a candy cane.”

The reason for holding the event each year was evident just by looking around the room, Smith said, pointing to a happy child.

“How could you not want to do this every year?” she said. “Look at these kids — look at these faces — how could you not want to do this every year?”

Rotarian Eileen Cuffe said seeing the happy faces made all the preparation and work worthwhile.

“I love the kids, I love Christmas and just seeing everybody so happy makes my day,” Cuffe said.

Hazel and Thatcher Welty were among the kids who visited with the Clauses and had their photo taken.

“Hazel has been here before but for Thatcher, it’s his first time,” mom Elizabeth Welty said. “She was very excited to come — a little nervous, but she was excited. It’s been a while.”

Greeting the kids and handing out gifts were several high school students from the Interact Club, which is similar to a junior Rotary. Connor Mullen and Nick Lucci made their first appearance as elves helping out Santa.

“This is our first year doing this,” Mullen said. “We are currently in the Interact Club at the school and this is how we got to do this. It’s community service for the club.”

Dad Derek Bell said his four kids really enjoyed the event.

“They are very excited. They enjoy Santa every year,” Bell said. “An event like this strengthens the vibe of a small town. It keeps everybody close and in touch, which is what we want.”