A new program aimed at protecting elderly Mainers from scams by attaching informational brochures to prescription bags at Hannaford pharmacies throughout the state was announced on Thursday by the Maine U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The Maine Rx Elder Fraud Program, a collaborative effort between the Maine U.S. Attorney, AARP Maine and the Maine Council for Elder Abuse Prevention, is designed at educating Mainers on common signs of scams and how to report elder fraud.
The program is slated to launch at 60 in-store pharmacies at Hannaford Supermarkets across Maine, where educational brochures will be attached to prescription bags when they are distributed to pharmacy customers.
“Pharmacists are consistently ranked among the most trusted health care providers, and with approximately 9 out of 10 people over age 65 having at least one regular prescription, pharmacists will be a key partner in our efforts to inform this population,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine Darcie McElwee.
“That trust and regular contact makes pharmacies an ideal conduit to reach older Mainers, as well as their family members or caregivers,” McElwee said.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says elder fraud is a growing problem across the county, with last year more than 101,000 Americans over the age of 60 being defrauded out of $3.4 billion through a variety of scams.
That number includes 397 elderly Mainers who filed fraud complaints in 2023 for losses totaling over $7.1 million, according to the FBI.
“The actual losses are likely considerably higher than reported,” said Andrew McCormack, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Elder Justice Coordinator for the District of Maine. “For a variety of reasons, older individuals are often hesitant to report when they’ve been scammed.”
While it is normal to feel embarrassed when you’ve been tricked, it is important to remember that the criminals who take advantage of people are absolute pros at what they do,” McCormack said.
“Older Americans are not the only victims – people of all ages and backgrounds fall prey to scams every day – but after a lifetime of saving and perhaps not being online as often and therefore as current on recent scams, they are a common, and frankly favorite, target for some of the most insidious types of fraud,” he said.
