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 Texas Frauds and Scams Against Seniors

The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General works to identify and aggressively prosecute those who cheat or deceive the elderly. The division files lawsuits under the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and facilitates the resolution of disputes between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Protection Division focuses its efforts on:

• The advertising and sale of insurance and retirement-oriented investments, financial planning services, estate planning and legal services directed at senior Texans;
• The advertising and sale of home improvements, medical devices and other services and products that target seniors; and
• Telemarketing and mail fraud aimed at senior citizens.

Crime Prevention for Seniors

Through conferences, publications, videos and presentations to groups around our state, the Office of the Attorney General educates Texas seniors about personal security, elder abuse, consumer fraud and crime victims' compensation.

The Office of the Attorney General participates in one of the Nation's most promising community policing movements for preventing crime against senior citizens: a program known as TRIAD. On the national level, TRIAD is a cooperative effort of the National Sheriffs' Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP). On the local level, TRIAD unites seniors with police and sheriff departments.

Each local TRIAD is guided by a volunteer council called SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together). The SALT Council decides what services or programs the TRIAD will offer, recruits volunteers and oversees the results. The TRAD program is flexible, adaptable, low-cost and simple-but very effective.

Health & Safety for Seniors

The Elder Law and Public Health Division seeks to protect senior Texans and other health-care service consumers. The division's primary area of concern is ensuring quality treatment in nursing homes, personal care homes and psychiatric facilities.

The Attorney General's Elder Law Division takes legal action in cases referred by the Texas Department of Human Services, the state agency that inspects nursing homes and investigates alleged violations of state and federal nursing home standards.

When elders are abused in nursing homes that serve Medicaid patients, the AG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and refers the abusers for criminal prosecution.

Who to Call

To complain about a nursing home, personal care home or psychiatric facility, call the Texas Department of Human Services (Long-term Care) at (800) 458-9858.

To report Medicaid provider fraud or abuse of a Medicaid recipient, contact the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit:

Telephone: (512) 463-2011
Fax: (512) 320-0974
E-mail: mfcu@oag.state.tx.us

If you suspect that an elderly or disabled person is neglected or abused, call 911 or local law enforcement if the person is in immediate or severe danger. Or call the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, 24-hour toll-free abuse hot line at (800) 252-5400.

See Other Senior Scams

Texas TRIAD Program

May of 99' Texas Attorney General John Cornyn signed a statewide Triad agreement and pledged 100 additional Triads by the end of the year 2001. State law enforcement officials and American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) representatives joined General Cornyn in signing the agreement to recognize and re-establish the 100 Triads currently operating statewide.

Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (S.A.L.T.)

S.A.L .T. (Seniors and Lawmen Together) is the key component for the success of a TRIAD. In each community the S.A.L.T. Council acts as an advocacy/advisory group and provides a forum for the exchange of information between seniors and law enforcement.

Members of most S.A.L.T. groups include:

• Police chief(s) or designated officer(s)
• Sheriff or designee
• RSVP and AARP
• The Area Agency on Aging
• Mature/retired leaders
• Home extension service
• Emergency response/medical representative
• Any other agencies or individuals interested in the welfare of seniors.

A county may decide to have one countywide S.A.L.T. group, or each community may have its own, with periodic coordination among the councils. Most S.A.L.T. councils meet monthly. Most carry out activities through the efforts of active subcommittees, crime prevention education, publicity, special events, reassurance strategies, elder abuse prevention, etc.

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