HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday on Tuesday announced the creation of a new Elder Exploitation Section within the Office of Attorney General, an initiative designed to expand protections for older residents and aggressively pursue cases of financial theft and fraud.

The announcement, made at the State Capitol alongside legislators, state officials, and senior advocacy organizations, marks one of the most significant statewide steps in recent years to combat financial crimes targeting older Pennsylvanians.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the new section will take on cases involving financial exploitation, deception, and theft — crimes often committed by individuals in positions of trust, including relatives, caregivers, and those with power of attorney.

“These cases are as heartbreaking as they are financially devastating to the senior victims, who are oftentimes deceived out of their life savings by someone they trust,” Sunday said during the launch. “Our mission is to protect seniors by raising awareness, preventing these crimes, and holding offenders accountable.”

The Elder Exploitation Section is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Elizabeth Schneider and Chief Agent Lucas Miller, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in elder law and financial investigations. The unit was formed by restructuring existing staff and is already handling around 30 active cases.

Officials noted that financial exploitation cases can be complex, requiring in-depth review of financial documents, bank activity, real estate transactions, medical billing, and legal agreements. Local police departments — particularly smaller agencies in rural regions — often lack the resources to manage such investigations. The new section will help fill that gap and expects referrals from local police, counties, state agencies, federal partners, and other organizations.

How This Helps Seniors in the Poconos and Northeastern Pennsylvania

The Poconos — including Monroe, Pike, Carbon, and Wayne counties — has one of the fastest-growing senior populations in the state. With many retirees relocating to the region and thousands of older residents living alone or relying on caregivers, officials say protections against financial exploitation are becoming increasingly critical.

Communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania often rely on smaller municipal police departments that may not have specialized financial investigators. The new statewide section is expected to provide direct support by taking on complex cases local departments cannot manage on their own.

Senior advocates say the region has seen rising reports of:

• caregiver financial abuse
• misuse of power of attorney
• scams targeting isolated seniors
• theft from seniors by relatives
• manipulation of dementia patients’ finances

The Elder Exploitation Section will not only investigate these crimes but also coordinate with existing resources such as the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Medicaid Fraud Control Section, and the Office of Public Engagement, further expanding the assistance available to seniors in more rural parts of the state.

Broad Support From Senior Advocacy Organizations

A wide range of agencies and advocacy groups attended the launch, including the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Department of Banking and Securities, AARP, SeniorLAW Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, and several veterans’ organizations.

Lawmakers from both parties, including Pa. Rep. Maureen Madden — whose district includes Monroe County — joined the announcement, signaling bipartisan support for stronger protections for seniors statewide and in the Poconos.

The Office of Attorney General encourages residents who suspect elder financial abuse to report concerns to local law enforcement or directly to the OAG for review.