Identity Theft:

Identity Theft is a term used when someone’s personal information or credit credentials are being used to commit fraud or other crimes. This can occur in multiple ways. The most common is simply the use of a financial transaction card (credit/debit) which is being fraudulently used without the card holders consent.

If someone steals your identity, they can cause you serious problems, ruining your credit and good name. This could cost you both time and money to clear up.

A missing person includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

A minor (person less than 18 years of age) who is missing voluntarily or involuntarily

An adult who

• may be in need of assistance
• may be the victim of a crime or foul play
• may be in need of medical attention
• has no pattern of running away or disappearing
• may be a involved parental abduction
• is mentally or physically impaired

Nearly two million older Americans are believed to experience abuse each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging. But only one in five cases is reported. Elder abuse is preventable but it requires research, education, advocacy and public awareness.

Elder abuse is a general term used to describe certain types of harm to older adults. Other terms commonly used include: "elder mistreatment," "senior abuse," "abuse in later life," "abuse of older adults," "abuse of older women," and "abuse of older men."

One of the more commonly accepted definitions of elder abuse is "a single, or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person."^[1] This definition has been adopted by the World Health Organization from a definition put forward by Action on Elder Abuse in the UK.

The core feature of this definition is that it focuses on harms where there is "expectation of trust" of the older person toward their abuser. Thus, it includes harms by people the older person knows or with whom they have a relationship, such as a spouse, partner or family member, a friend or neighbor, or people that the older person relies on for services. Many forms of elder abuse are recognized as types of domestic violence or family violence.

The term elder abuse does not include general criminal activity against older persons, such as home break ins, "muggings" in the street or "distraction burglary", where a stranger distracts an older person at the doorstep while another person enters the property to steal.

The abuse of elders by caretakers is a worldwide issue. In 2002, the work of the World Health Organization brought international attention to the issue of elder abuse.^[2] Over the years, government agencies and community professional groups, worldwide, have specified elder abuse as a social problem.^[3]

In 2006 the International Network for Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) designated June 15 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) and an increasing number of events are held across the globe on this day to raise awareness of elder abuse, and highlight ways to challenge such abuse.^[4]