San Antonio’s urgent plan aims to shield seniors from soaring holiday scams by enhancing protections and education.
SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio council member is pushing a plan to stop scammers from targeting seniors.
This comes in the middle of the holiday season, with online shopping and donations at an all-time high — but so are scams.
The Council Consideration Request plan, or CCR for short, would create strategies to stop multiple scam angles toward seniors — from door-to-door, telephone and internet scams.
In detail, District 5’s Councilwoman Teri Castillo’s plan would auto-enroll seniors in the state and federal Do Not Call registry.
Door visits would be banned after sunset and on Sundays.
And if you do go door-to-door for payment, you’d be required to show a badge or ID.
Other details in the plan include collaboration with law enforcement and financial institutions. Guides and seminars would also be created to help educate seniors in the community.
Last year, Family Protective Services received more than 1,100 allegations of exploitation against seniors in Bexar County.
For neglect and abuse, there were more than 8,400 cases.
And that’s just what’s reported — the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State says only one in 25 cases of elder financial exploitation are reported.
San Antonio leaders predict our senior population will grow by 40% in the next 15 years.
Castillo stresses urgency, noting that right now, 13% of seniors live in poverty and need stronger protections.
The CCR was filed yesterday, and Councilwoman Castillo wants it added to the Governance Committee’s agenda as soon as possible.