World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – June 15, 2013

June 15, 2013, is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.  Each year, hundreds of thousands of seniors in the United States are neglected, abused and exploited at an estimated loss of $2.6 billion or more annually, funds that could have been used to pay for basic needs such as housing, food, and medical care. Abuse, exploitation, and neglect occur in every demographic, and can happen to anyone – a family member, a neighbor, a friend, even you.  It is estimated that only about one in five of these crimes are ever reported.

An article in the June 2013 edition of Senior Connections Magazine reported on a Las Vegas couple who were accused of scamming nearly $2 million from the elderly in California. Both defendants were involved in a scheme that targeted elderly residents in the San Diego, Calif. area from 2007 to the present. Michael Woodward would go door to door selling what he claimed was long-term care insurance.

While no Nevada victims have come forward yet, the Attorney General’s office is concerned about Nevada consumers.  Victims in Nevada with information regarding Michael Woodward (or any of his aliases) or Melissa Woodward or one of their business names are urged to contact the Nevada Attorney General’s Office Insurance Fraud Unit at 702-486-3420 and submit a written complaint.

Drizin Law is providing this information for educational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion as to any specific facts or circumstances. This information is based on general principles of Nevada law at the time it was created and you should be aware laws frequently change. Moreover, the laws affecting you may differ depending on the circumstances. You should consult with a qualified attorney in your own state or jurisdiction concerning your particular situation. Review of this information does not create an attorney-client relationship.