In a recent government meeting, discussions centered on the alarming rise of fraud targeting older adults, with a particular emphasis on the need for improved reporting mechanisms. Kathy Stokes and Scott Perillo highlighted the stigma surrounding scam victims, which often discourages them from reporting incidents. Stokes pointed out that low reporting levels hinder law enforcement's ability to grasp the full scope of the problem, citing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data that suggests actual thefts could be as high as $137 billion, far exceeding reported figures.

Perillo echoed these concerns, noting the disorganization in reporting fraud cases. He emphasized the absence of a centralized reporting system, which leads to uninformed policy decisions regarding resource allocation. He mentioned that many victims are unaware of where to report fraud, resulting in significant underreporting. In San Diego, for example, they discovered that only one in twenty cases of elder fraud is reported, indicating a vast underestimation of the issue.

The meeting also addressed specific fraud cases, including a significant investigation into fraudulent billing for urinary catheters in Indiana. Senator Braun inquired about the extent of this fraud in the state, revealing that while only 40 cases had been reported, many more likely went unnoticed due to confusion over Medicare statements. Other prevalent scams discussed included imposter calls claiming to be from CVS offering diabetic supplies and fraudulent billing for ostomy supplies.

The participants underscored the importance of sharing best practices among states to combat these scams effectively. They called for greater public awareness and collaboration between law enforcement and investigative reporters to shed light on these issues and encourage victims to come forward. The meeting concluded with a commitment to enhance reporting systems and improve the overall response to fraud targeting vulnerable populations.