CASE Partnership   Sheriff Mike Scott "Proud To Serve" A Partnership Of The Lee County Sheriff’s Office And The Faith Community To Prevent Fraud

DID YOU KNOW…

·        10 million Americans had their identities stolen last year.

·        Consumers lose $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud.

·        U.S. citizens send over $100 million each year to Canadian con artists.

·        2/3 of elder financial abusers are family members or trusted advisors.

It is the policy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to protect the Constitutional rights of all people, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical handicap, religion or other belief system or physical characteristic; and to treat each person with respect and dignity.

 

"Proud to Serve"
Sheriff Mike Scott

 

14750 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.
Ft. Myers , FL 33912

EMERGENCY 9-1-1
Non-Emergency 477-1000
http://www.sheriffleefl.org

Communities Against Senior Exploitation

PURPOSE

A community partnership to: 

1.     Prevent fraud and exploitation of older adults.

2.     Increase fraud detection and reporting.

3.     Provide victim support.

HISTORY

CASE was launched in 2002 at the Denver District Attorney's Office. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is the only law enforcement agency in the country to be selected to replicate this program. Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott started CASE in 2006 because of the large number of older adults living in Lee County. Sheriff Scott says, “Older adults are more likely to be targeted for scams and fraud. CASE gives older consumers the tools they need to empower and protect themselves.”

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Why does the Sheriff want faith-based partners?

Faith communities are excellent partners in this effort because:

1.     A high percentage of older adults are members of faith communities.

2.     Older adults place high trust in their faith communities.

3.     Older adults receive much of their information and support from their faith communities.

What will we have to do as a CASE Partner?

We know how busy you are.  This program places the greatest load on the CASE staff.  We only ask that our Partners:

ü      Designate a CASE coordinator for your community.

ü      Agree to sponsor a Power Against Fraud seminar.

ü      Agree to distribute the monthly Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Alerts to your members and constituents.

ü         Agree to familiarize yourself with elder financial crime issues

and the preventive steps that can be taken to reduce fraud.

ü         Agree to monitor your older members and to report suspected fraud to CASE staff.

What will the Lee County Sheriff’s Office do for our community?

CASE Partnership staff will:

ü         Send monthly Fraud Alerts to distribute to your congregation.

ü         Conduct Power Against Fraud seminars for your members at  your choice of time and place.

ü         Provide handbooks and other materials to help older adults and their families avoid fraud and exploitation.

ü         Provide a Fraud Line to assist older adults with crime prevention steps and victim assistance, including crisis intervention, emotional support, information and referral, and victim advocacy services.

Are there any costs to being a CASE Partner?

All services listed are free to CASE Partners as part of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office crime prevention programs.

How do I become a CASE Partner or schedule a POWER AGAINST FRAUD Seminar?

Contact:

Stacey Payne,
Crime Prevention Coordinator
239-477-1481
Spayne@sheriffleefl.org

Fraud Hotline
239-477-1242