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Pennsylvania AG Launches Elder Exploitation Section to Prosecute Senior Scams

Built by reallocating staff, the unit will apply Pennsylvania's felony statute for senior exploitation when losses top $20,000.

Overview

  • Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the new section at the Capitol, saying it is already handling more than 30 cases.
  • Prosecutors will use the state charge for financial exploitation of older or care‑dependent adults above the $20,000 threshold, which carries potential sentences of up to 20 years.
  • The initiative adds no new taxpayer cost, with attorneys reassigned from within the office based on elder‑law experience.
  • The section will serve as a resource for local departments and expects referrals from municipal police along with county, state, and federal agencies.
  • Officials said perpetrators are often known to victims, frequently relatives or caregivers, and noted Department of Aging data showing financial exploitation is the most common reported need in 2023–24.