Pilot Program To Halt Financial Abuse Of Older Residents Launched In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL, CA — The Marin County District Attorney’s Office has launched a new pilot program with local banks and law enforcement to proactively combat the surging financial abuse targeting older residents, officials said.

District Attorney Lori Frugoli announced the partnership with Bank of Marin, WestAmerica Bank, and the San Rafael Police Department, alongside the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services’ Aging Division. The goal is to empower bank staff to intervene when an older customer attempts a suspiciously large or uncharacteristic withdrawal.

“Scammers capitalize on kindness and trust, two values our senior population so beautifully embodies,” Frugoli said. “Unfortunately, today’s sophisticated fraud schemes have turned these virtues into vulnerabilities, often resulting in losses of tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes one’s life savings. Our office is committed to protecting and fighting for our seniors.”

The pilot is running for two months at six San Rafael branch locations — three from each bank. Bank managers are training customer service personnel to use informational cards when a transaction raises a “red flag,” such as a request for a large withdrawal via cash, cashier’s check, or wire transfer.

These cards prompt customers to pause and consider if the withdrawal is connected to an unfamiliar person or party, urging them to contact the San Rafael Police Department before releasing any funds.

“It can be influential if one of their trusted sources says, ‘I wouldn’t do this if I were you’ or ‘At least pump the breaks and look further into it first,’” said DA Investigator Mark Reischel.

One in five older adults becomes a victim of financial abuse, with victims age 60 and older losing an estimated $28.3 billion annually to exploitation, according to a 2023 AARP study. While the majority of losses come from people the victim knows, over $8 billion is lost to stranger-perpetrated incidents.

The DA’s office and the HHS Financial Abuse Special Team plan to expand the program following the pilot, targeting not only older adults but also their family members, caregivers and staff at senior facilities. Local chambers of commerce, community centers, and houses of worship have also expressed interest in helping spread awareness of the effort to protect Marin’s growing senior population, officials said.