Senior Citizens

Unfortunately, Virginia’s senior citizens are often the target of some of the most prevalent and deceiving scams. Criminals have tried to prey on seniors with scams that aim to collect personal information through phone calls and emails. Other scams advertise rates that are too good to be true for services and then try to intimidate seniors into paying double or triple the advertised rate.

Delegate O’Quinn carried and passed a bill this year that deals with financial crimes against seniors. Previously, financial institutions could report suspected crimes against seniors but the law was very vague as to what supporting documentation they could provide to law enforcement. Delegate O’Quinn’s bill clarified exactly what they can provide to assist in the prosecution of such crimes. Israel believes that anyone found guilty of this kind of criminal activity should be punished to the maximum sentence of the law. Scamming a senior citizen or trying to steal their identity is absolutely unacceptable.

While serving in the Virginia Attorney General’s office, Israel worked throughout Southwest Virginia to set up TRIAD programs that bring seniors and law enforcement together to help one another. Seniors gain valuable tips and tools that can protect them from scams, and law enforcement increases their knowledge of the latest scams and the perpetrators of that criminal activity. Israel believes that such partnerships are very valuable and he has worked to continue helping Virginia’s senior citizens.