Free Digital Tool Provides Immediate Protection as 30% of Elder Care Referrals Now Involve Financial Exploitation

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY — In a unanimous vote that signals a major step forward in protecting vulnerable residents, Lackawanna County Commissioners have approved a groundbreaking pilot program designed to shield seniors from the tsunami of scams that cost older Pennsylvanians over $1.6 billion in 2023 alone.

The county’s partnership with SilverShield Incorporated launches a sophisticated, user-friendly online service that gives seniors real-time protection against the increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes targeting older adults across Northeast Pennsylvania and beyond.

The Crisis Behind the Program

The numbers paint a disturbing picture. According to Kerri Anzulewicz, Deputy Director of Lackawanna County’s Area Agency on Aging, approximately 30% of all referrals the agency receives now involve some form of financial exploitation—a dramatic increase that reflects a nationwide epidemic.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase in individuals impacted by scams, and the loss is tremendous,” Anzulewicz told reporters following the commissioners’ vote. The national statistics back up this local concern: seniors lost a staggering $4.8 billion to scammers in 2024, with Pennsylvania ranking seventh in the nation for elder fraud complaints.

In Pennsylvania alone, more than 3,000 elder fraud complaints were filed in 2023, with losses exceeding $117 million. The average loss per victim in the Commonwealth was $38,741—nearly $5,000 higher than the national average. But these numbers only tell part of the story, as many victims never report being scammed due to shame, fear of losing independence, or simply not knowing how to report the crime.

How SilverShield Works: Protection at Your Fingertips

Unlike traditional educational programs that teach seniors what scams look like after the fact, SilverShield provides active, real-time protection through multiple platforms:

Accessible Technology Seniors can access the service through their cell phones, tablets, or computers—meeting them where they already are in the digital world. The system is designed to be user-friendly, recognizing that not all seniors are tech-savvy but all deserve protection.

Real-Time Scam Detection When a suspicious email arrives, a questionable phone call comes in, or an odd text message appears, seniors can immediately check it through SilverShield. The system analyzes the communication and provides instant feedback: “This is a scam—don’t engage” or “Ask these additional questions to verify legitimacy.”

Guided Decision-Making Rather than leaving seniors to figure things out alone, SilverShield walks users through a series of questions designed to help them determine for themselves whether something is legitimate. This approach empowers seniors while protecting them, maintaining their autonomy and dignity.

Privacy Protection One of the program’s most important features is its confidential nature. “People don’t want to go to their families or go to an outside person and say, ‘Hey, I think I’ve been scammed.’ There’s a fear of lost independence,” Anzulewicz explained. SilverShield allows seniors to check suspicious communications privately before falling victim—or before having to admit they’ve been fooled.

The Types of Scams Targeting NEPA Seniors

Lackawanna County officials report that local seniors face an evolving array of threats:

Government Impersonation Scams Criminals pose as IRS agents, Social Security Administration officials, or law enforcement, threatening arrest or legal action unless immediate payment is made. These high-pressure tactics prey on seniors’ respect for authority and fear of legal trouble.

Romance Scams Scammers build online relationships over weeks or months, then request money for various “emergencies.” These schemes are particularly devastating emotionally as well as financially, with victims losing both their savings and their trust in others.

Investment Fraud Fake investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns have become increasingly sophisticated, often involving cryptocurrency schemes that seniors may not fully understand.

Lottery and Prize Scams Victims are told they’ve won a contest they never entered but must pay taxes or fees upfront to claim their prize.

Tech Support Scams Pop-up messages or phone calls claim the senior’s computer is infected with a virus, leading to remote access being granted to criminals who then steal financial information or install malware.

Breaking the Cycle of Repeat Victimization

One particularly troubling trend that SilverShield aims to address is repeat victimization. “What we’re seeing is people coming through the system multiple times, falling victim to scams,” Anzulewicz noted. Once scammers know someone is vulnerable, they often return with new schemes or sell that person’s information to other criminals.

By putting protective technology directly in seniors’ hands, SilverShield helps break this cycle before it begins. The real-time nature of the service means seniors can verify suspicious communications before sending money, clicking links, or providing personal information.

No Cost to Seniors or Taxpayers

In a rare win-win for county budgets, the SilverShield program won’t cost Lackawanna County taxpayers a dime. The initiative is fully funded through a state aging block grant, making it a free resource for eligible seniors throughout the county.

“It’s a great program. It’s free for the senior citizens. So it’s going to be something that we are really proud of,” said Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan, who joined his colleagues in unanimous support of the pilot program.

Who’s Eligible and How to Enroll

The pilot program is being administered through the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging, which serves as the gateway for seniors seeking protection. Specific eligibility requirements and enrollment procedures will be announced as the program launches in the coming weeks.

Seniors interested in participating or family members seeking to enroll vulnerable loved ones should contact:

Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging Phone: (570) 963-6707 Location: Lackawanna County Government Center, Scranton

Why This Matters: The Human Cost of Elder Fraud

Beyond the staggering financial losses, elder fraud takes a profound psychological toll. Research shows that scam victims often experience shame, depression, anxiety, and a devastating loss of confidence in their own judgment. Family relationships can become strained when adult children discover parents have lost life savings to criminals.

The fear of losing independence looms large. Many seniors worry that if they admit to being scammed, family members will take away their financial autonomy or insist they can no longer live independently. This fear keeps many victims silent, allowing criminals to continue targeting them.

SilverShield addresses this psychological dimension by empowering seniors to protect themselves privately, before a scam succeeds. This proactive approach preserves dignity while providing robust protection.

What Seniors and Families Should Do Now

While waiting for the SilverShield program to fully launch, experts recommend these immediate protective steps:

Pause Before Paying Never send money, gift cards, or provide bank information in response to unsolicited contact. Legitimate organizations don’t demand immediate payment through untraceable methods.

Verify Independently If someone claims to be from your bank, a government agency, or a company you do business with, hang up and call the organization directly using a phone number you look up yourself—not one provided by the caller.

Talk About It Family members should have regular, non-judgmental conversations with older relatives about scams. Make it clear that anyone can be fooled by sophisticated criminals.

Report Suspicious Activity Even if no money was lost, report scam attempts to:

• FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov)
• Federal Trade Commission (ReportFraud.ftc.gov)
• Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division
• Local law enforcement

Register for Do Not Call Sign up at DoNotCall.gov to reduce telemarketing calls, though scammers often ignore these registries.

Resources:

• Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging: (570) 963-6707
• Pennsylvania Safe Haven Hotline: 1-866-921-SAFE (7233)
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: IC3.gov
• FTC Fraud Reporting: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• PA Attorney General Consumer Protection: 1-800-441-2555

A Model for Other Counties

As Lackawanna County pioneers this innovative approach to elder protection, other counties across Pennsylvania and the nation are watching closely. If the pilot program proves successful—as officials expect—it could become a template for protecting vulnerable seniors across wider regions.

The program represents a shift from reactive to proactive elder protection, moving beyond simply educating seniors about what scams exist to giving them tools to identify and avoid scams in real-time as they encounter them.

The Bigger Picture: A Community Responsibility

Protecting seniors from financial exploitation isn’t just a government responsibility—it requires community-wide awareness and action. Neighbors, friends, family members, healthcare providers, and financial institutions all play crucial roles in spotting warning signs and intervening before major losses occur.

Warning signs that someone may be falling victim to scams include:

• Sudden, unusual financial transactions or withdrawals
• Reluctance to discuss finances or new “opportunities”
• Unexpected packages containing gift cards or cash
• Increased secretiveness about phone calls or computer use
• New “friends” or “romantic partners” who quickly ask for money

The arrival of SilverShield in Lackawanna County represents hope that technology, when properly designed and deployed, can help level the playing field between sophisticated criminals and the vulnerable seniors they target.

Looking Ahead

As the pilot program rolls out in the coming weeks and months, the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging will be monitoring its effectiveness, gathering feedback from senior users, and making adjustments as needed. Success metrics will likely include the number of seniors enrolled, scams prevented, and money saved.

The unanimous support from county commissioners, combined with full state funding, suggests strong political will to make elder protection a priority. In an era when seniors face unprecedented threats from increasingly sophisticated criminals armed with AI, deepfake technology, and global criminal networks, programs like SilverShield offer a vital line of defense.

For Lackawanna County’s senior residents, the message is clear: help is available, protection is free, and no one should face scammers alone. The days when seniors had to navigate the dangerous digital landscape without real-time support may finally be ending.

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The SilverShield pilot program is expected to become fully operational in Lackawanna County within the next several weeks. Seniors and family members are encouraged to contact the Area Agency on Aging for enrollment information and updates.