Cook Co. Probate Judge issues warning for elder abuse and exploitation

ADEL, Ga. – The Cook County Probate Court is issuing a warning for local families. To keep an eye out for their oldest members who may be being exploited financially through social media.

Probate Judge, Chase Daughtrey says that in the month of September, they’ve had a few cases of senior citizens being financially exploited.

“Well, just in this month alone, our sheriff’s office I believe has made two elder exploitation cases that involve three senior citizens. Now that may not seem like much, but in a county of around 20 thousand people, I think that’s a pretty big deal,” said Chase Daughtrey, Probate Judge, Cook County.

Daughtrey tells us that scam actors have been targeting seniors who may be lonely over social media and before they know it these scam artists are making financial decisions for seniors.

“First out, they’ll start by befriending them, cause unfortunately, a lot of these folks are lonely, they have limited family, they have limited interaction with other folks. So, in terms of trying to seek attention and compassion, they’ll befriend someone. We will find that they will utilize them to open new bank accounts, using a person’s social security number. They will become that person’s co-signer, and co-owner’s of a person’s checking account…” he said.

But one of the biggest things that families can do to prevent extortion and fraud like this is simple…

Sit down and talk.

“I think the biggest thing is education at this point, and communication between family members, and if you have elderly parents, elderly grandparents, to make them aware that there are bad actors out there who will seek out your loved one to try and exploit them for financial gain,” he said.

And, while it might seem implausible that such a thing is happening in Cook county, Daughtrey wants people to know that they can put a stop to it.

“As a community, we need to make sure that we’re looking out for our friends, and neighbors, and our church members and our family members, to make sure that if we see someone being extorted or abused that we make sure to report that,” he said.

Daughtrey says that if you suspect an older member of your family is being financially exploited to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

And, you can contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office at 229-896-7471.

Brian Roche reporting.

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