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What is the Texas Elder Justice Coalition?

Texas Elder Justice Coalition is a network of Texas professionals from multiple fields and disciplines working together to end financial exploitation of older adults in Texas. Our work focuses on education, advocacy, accountability and collaboration with state and community partners to ensure that older adults age with dignity and financial security.

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Safeguarding Older Texans from Financial Exploitation

If you, or someone you care for, has questions about financial exploitation of older adults or has experienced financial exploitation, you are in the right place.

TEJC's network of professionals and organizations include:

TEJC is a growing coalition of professionals serving and safeguarding older adults from becoming victims of exploitation and losing their precious wealth and health. Our central goal is to enlist as many types of organizations across Texas as possible to educate one another and improve systems of communication for identifying and reporting fraud and exploitation directed at older adults. In addition, our coalition focuses on deterring, interrupting and addressing financial exploitation of older adults.

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Older adults in the U.S. lose approximately $28 billion every year to financial exploitation.

For every one case of financial exploitation of an older adult reported, another 43 never come forward.

72% of financial exploitation of older adult cases are committed by someone known to the older adult.

Texas is home to the third largest population of adults 65+ in the nation.

Sources:  AARP Bank Safe Initiative. AARP Report Finds $28.3 Billion a Year is Stolen from U.S. Adults Over 60. AARP Press Room (June 15, 2023). Peterson, J.C., Burnes, D.P., Caccamise, P.L. et al. Financial Exploitation of Older Adults: A Population-Based Prevalence Study. J GEN INTERN MED 29, 1615–1623 (2014). AARP Bank Safe Initiative. AARP Report Finds $28.3 Billion a Year is Stolen from U.S. Adults Over 60. AARP Press Room (June 15, 2023). FBI. 2023 Elder Fraud Report (April 30, 2024).

Important Questions You May Have:

Elder justice is when the collective actions of professionals, older adults, family and friends eliminate financial exploitation of older adults.

Financial exploitation is unauthorized or improper use of an older adult’s funds, property or assets for someone else’s benefit, often to the detriment of the older adult. All types of financial exploitation of older adults are, in short, theft.

Being financially exploited can be devastating to an older adult — not only because of financial losses, but also because there are significant emotional, psychological and physical consequences. Financial exploitation jeopardizes an older adult’s financial security, independence and quality of life. According to data from the National Elder Justice Law Enforcement Summit, even mild abuse, neglect or exploitation increase premature deaths in the elder older adult population by 300%.

Perpetrators can be family members, caregivers, financial advisors or strangers.

What are the signs when someone is being exploited?

Recognizing the signs of financial exploitation and taking proactive measures to prevent and address it are crucial in safeguarding the financial well-being and dignity of older adults.

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Examples of Financial Exploitation of Older Adults

Examples of financial exploitation typically used by family, friends, caregivers or people they trust include:

Theft

Taking money or property from an older adult without their consent or knowledge.

Fraud

Deceiving or tricking an older adult into giving away money or assets through false promises, misrepresentation or manipulation.

Coersion

Pressuring or forcing an older adult to make financial decisions against their will, often through threats or intimidation.

Undue Influence

Persuading or manipulating an older adult to change their will, sign over assets, or make financial transactions that benefit the influencer at the expense of the older adult's best interests.

Misuse of Power of Attorney

Using a legally appointed power of attorney to access an older adult's finances for personal gain rather than for the benefit of the older adult.

Examples of financial exploitation typically used by strangers include:

Scams

Conning older adults through phone, mail, email or online schemes, such as lottery scams, grandparent scams or investment scams.

Report Elder Financial Exploitation

News Articles & Current Scam Alerts

FTC Pass It On for Older Americans Month

May 19, 2025

Here are some ideas for starting conversations.

If you’re interested in investing some of your hard-earned money, learn more about investment scams.
If you’re worried about identity theft, start by reading about how identity theft works and what to do. Then watch the video 5 Ways to Help Protect Your Identity.
If you get government benefits, be alert if you’re contacted by anyone who says they’re from Social Security, Medicare, or another government agency. It could be a government impersonator scam.

READ MORE

FBI PSA Emerging Discount Medical Insurance Scams

May 5, 2025

Tips to Protect Yourself
Always make sure the medical plan offered is from a reputable source, and that the company is licensed to operate in your state. The state insurance commissioner or the Better Business Bureau are good sources to verify the veracity of a plan.
Verify with current providers that they accept the insurance plan you are considering.
If no policy documents are sent, this could be a sign of a fraudulent plan. If policy documents are sent, review them and read the fine print. Understand exactly what is being offered before committing to anything.
Don’t pay anything upfront. Be cautious if a company asks for large upfront payments or seems to be pressuring you into making quick decisions.
Do your own research. If the plan seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Report It

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Texas Elder Justice Coalition Newsletter April 2025

April 29, 2025

THANK YOU SPONSORS!!
The inaugural Texas Elder Justice Coalition Summit will be an event not to miss thanks to our sponsors. We are thrilled to announce a $12,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation! Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $29 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Additional generous Summit support is provided by:
Mitchell Senior Solutions Agency
WellMed Charitable Foundation
United Way of Tarrant County’s Area Agency on Aging

Newsletter article highlights include:
Detective Jeff Prater, Colleyville Police Department, Federal Task Force Officer, US Secret Service Special Investigations Unit, has been busy warning and informing about the dangers of Crypto ATMs. The photo to the right is the sign Colleyville Police Department installed near Crypto ATMs in Colleyville which has deterred some older adults from depositing funds.

Texas is still #3 in Older Adult Fraud loss, and losses increased from 2023
FTC reports Top Scams of 2024

Even though the number reports of fraud is roughly the same as last year, more people lost a lot more money to fraud.

One in three people (vs. one in four in 2023) who reported fraud said they lost money, adding up to $12.5 billion (up $2.5 billion from 2023).

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Texas Bar Foundation awards $12,000 grant for TEJC Summit 2025

April 29, 2025

The Texas Bar Foundation has awarded a $12,000 grant supporting the 2025 Texas Elder Justice Coalition Summit, a gathering of frontline professionals confronting the crisis of elder fraud and financial exploitation, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 10, 2025 at the Amon Carter Event Center at Lena Pope in Fort Worth.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $29 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

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Dana Hoffman

Coordinator, Texas Elder Justice Coalition

dhoffman@txelderjustice.org

682-235-5354

PO Box 11481
Fort Worth, TX 76110

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This is a Texas-focused coalition website. Information may not be accurate for other locations. This website is not to be substituted for legal advice. This disclaimer will be governed by and construed in accordance with Texas, and any disputes relating to this disclaimer will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Fort Worth, Texas.

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