Violent crime, property crime, economic crime, abuse, and neglect are both the most frequent and significant of the victimizations of older persons (Meikrug & Ronen, 1993, pp. 1-19; Giordano, Yegidis, & Girodano, 1992, pp. 26-37; Ross, 1991, pp. 227-229; Cash & Valentine, 1987, pp. 47-60). The elderly traditionally have been victims of standard con games (Giordano, Yegidis, & Giordano, 1992, pp. 26-37). These types of crimes are especially serious because of their overall economic, social, and psychological impact on the victims. Even more frightening to the elderly person is the possibility of financial exploitation by family members, official guardians, or others with whom they may have a fiduciary relationship.
A form of larcenous victimization that continues to be a major problem, however, involves self-styled home repair and maintenance contractors who knock on the doors of the residences of elderly persons with offers of "low-cost" and fast service to repair roofs, add siding, repair asphalt driveways, and similar property maintenance jobs (Giordano, Yegidis, & Giordano, 1992, pp. 26-37). When such work is said to be completed, the elderly victim typically finds that the costs are much higher than those quoted, the work was not performed as promised, and the quality of the work performed is substandard. Past history with this type of larcenous criminal victimization has indicated that perpetrators become verbally abusive, threaten legal action against the victim, and demand that the victim either pay them on the spot or accompany them to the victim's bank to effect payment. There also is a disturbing new trend among the perpetrators of such scams. These perpetrators are now adding threats of physical harm to elderly victims who refuse to pay.
The increasing awareness that some elderly persons are physically abused and neglected by family members has been accompanied by a widespread assumption about elder abuse: tha...