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August 29, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State and Non-profits Announce Statewide Training on Preventing Elder Financial Fraud and Abuse

GARDINER – With cases of elder financial abuse escalating in numbers in Maine and throughout the country, and with financial exploitation of seniors considered one of the growing crimes of the 21st century, a coalition of government and non-profit agencies has announced a series of free educational sessions for the public, including seniors, caregivers and service providers. Sessions will be offered in Hallowell, Scarborough, Lewiston, Bangor and Presque Isle from September 10-12.

Maine’s Office of Securities has teamed up with the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, SaveAndInvest.org, Legal Services for the Elderly and other experts in offering these sessions to give seniors and allies concrete, practical information and resources on how to spot fraud and exploitation and how to get help or intervene to help a vulnerable senior.

“The Office of Securities is pleased to facilitate this effort to enhance public awareness about the financial exploitation and abuse of older Mainers,” Securities Administrator Judith Shaw commented. “These upcoming sessions will provide resources to seniors, and training directly to individuals who interact with older adults on a regular basis. Our partners in this effort do remarkable work to inform and protect seniors, and we encourage people to take advantage of the resources and insights to be offered.”

Gerri Walsh, President of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation, added, "Investment fraud criminals are experts at parting people from their money, and Mainers are being targeted. The FINRA Foundation is proud to sponsor the Maine investor education workshops, and we are committed to providing Mainers and all Americans with the information necessary to spot and avoid investment fraud and scams."

More information is available by contacting the Office of Securities at 1-877-624-8551, or calling the Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging at 1-877-353-3771. Dates, times and locations are noted below.

-- Augusta area: Mon., Sept. 10, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to All); Train-the-trainers 11:00-12:00 noon; Cohen Center, Town Farm Rd., Hallowell

-- Southern Maine: Mon., Sept. 10, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Open to All); Train-the-trainers 4:30-5:15 p.m.; Scarborough Town Hall, 259 U.S. Route 1, Scarborough

-- Lewiston/Auburn area: Tues., Sept. 11, 8:30-10:30 a.m. (Open to All); Train-the-trainers 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Ramada Inn, Pleasant Street, Lewiston

-- Bangor area: Tues., Sept. 11, 2:00-4:00p.m. (Open to All); Train-the-trainers 4:00-5:00 p.m.; Spectacular Event Center, 395 Griffin Road, Bangor

-- Aroostook County: Wed., Sept. 12, 9:00-11:00 a.m. (Open to All); Train-the-trainers 11:00-12:00 noon; The Gathering Place, 33 Davis St., Presque Isle

The Office of Securities is part of Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, which encourages sound business practices through the oversight of insurers, financial institutions, creditors, investment providers, and numerous professions More information is available at www.maine.gov/pfr.

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation is the largest foundation in the United States dedicated to investor education. Its mission is to provide investors with high-quality, easily accessible information and tools to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing.

The Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging provides leadership, education and advocacy in support of Maine’s five area agencies on issues affecting Maine’s elders, especially low-income elders.