She thought it was an email from Social Security. Instead, it was a $100,000 trap.

Montgomery County World Elder Abuse Awareness Day aims to protect older residents from scams

June 18, 2026 2:23 p.m. | Updated: June 18, 2026 2:27 p.m.

sign about older adults safety and elder abuse — Photo credit: Danny Chung-A-Fung

In 2023, Lisa, 82, lost more than $100,000 by falling prey to a scammer, and on Wednesday she shared her story in front of a crowd of about 100 of her peers with the hope of preventing them from becoming victims.

“I was so scared and so worried,” the Rockville resident said during the 16th annual Montgomery County Older Adults Safety Forum at the Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center in Silver Spring.

Sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, the event featured local leaders and law enforcement officials along with panel discussions, presentations and exhibitors focused on protecting older residents.

According to Lisa, the scam began with a fake email from the Social Security Administration telling Lisa – who asked not to have her last name printed to protect her privacy – that her “Social Security number was suspended and that she needed to take immediate action.”

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So she called the phone number included in the email that purportedly belonged to an FBI agent who could help her.

“He told me I had to transfer all my money overseas,” Lisa said.

When the scammer later wanted to meet Lisa in person, her son called the police. By then, Lisa had lost more than $100,000.

Lisa’s case is just one of 11 reviewed by the joint investigation between Montgomery County Police and the FBI, which have led to 10 indictments according to county law enforcement officials in February.

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Montgomery County police Chief Marc Yamada, county Sheriff Maxwell Uy, County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council president Natalie Fani-González and other members of the county leadership were in attendance to show support.

In his remarks, Elrich shared why events such as Wednesday’s session are important for older county residents.

“We’re proud that so many people choose to age in our county, but with that growth comes profound responsibility because the statistics on elder maltreatment are staggering,” Elrich said.

Elrich referenced data from the National Council of Aging that says that one in 10 older Americans experiences some form of elder abuse annually, which includes financial exploitation.

Multiple speakers throughout the event emphasized the importance of being very careful of potential financial scams.

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“Once you lose your money, especially through a cyber scam, it’s hard to get it back,” said Mario Wawrzusin, an administrator in aging and disability services with the county Department of Health and Human Services who served as the event’s emcee.

Debbie Feinstein, chief of the special victims division of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, said the event is a way to help educate seniors and prevent them from falling

victim to scams.

“We often find out about the crime after it’s already happened,” Feinstein said. “That’s why it’s so important to come to the community and educate them so they can then educate other people and spread the word.”

The event also featured prerecorded skits performed by older county residents who put a humorous spin on common elder abuse scams. One featured a grandmother who was worried that her son was in jail, which highlighted a common phone scam requesting money, and another involved a person asking for payment for a food delivery that was never requested.

Wawrzusin encouraged the event’s attendees to report any suspicious calls or emails they receive to law enforcement, noting that scams come in many forms.

“If you think something is amiss, say something,” Wawrzusin said. “Receive it, say it, and report it.”

Here are some other tips to avoid becoming a scam victim, according to Robert Hill, the chief of the grand jury unit and legislative affairs with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office:

Never give your Social Security number, bank account information, debit and credit card numbers to anyone, except to your bank or anyone else you know who needs that information.
Never make a payment to someone, unless you know who they are, especially by credit card, mobile payment apps, a money transfer or crypto.
If you receive an email that says it’s from your bank, check the “from” line to be sure it’s legitimate. If not, contact your bank to see if there is an issue.
Government agencies will never demand immediate payment from you, nor will they threaten to arrest you.

Wawrzusin said he hopes older residents will apply the safety advice presented during the event and also noted county resources are available to provide support as needed.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Wawrzusin said, referencing a quote by Benjamin Franklin. “We have a moral imperative to not only appreciate our elders, but also to maximize their safety.”

Residents can contact the county’s Aging and Disability Services and Adult Protective Services at 240-777-3000. The county police department can be reached at 301-279-8000 for non-emergencies.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine