In 2008, IPT funded the Texas-based pilot by the Huffington Center on Aging at Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Consortium Geriatric Education Center of what would become the national Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program. Since then, IPT has secured the participation of state securities offices in 27 states and jurisdictions working with doctors and adult protective services professionals to spot and combat swindles targeting the elderly.

"The National Adult Protective Services Association represents the 'boots on the ground' in the fight against elder abuse. Adult Protective Services professionals are the first responders to elder financial abuse, so they see the devastation these crimes wreak in older persons' lives every day," says NAPSA Executive Director Kathleen Quinn. "The IPT hotline on Nov. 10 will be a positive tool for victims of elder financial exploitation and family members, while at the same time providing a channel to communicate professional advice and awareness nationwide."

There will be three separate call-in lines.

• General Finance Questions: 888-227-1776. Callers can speak with an expert from the Financial Planning Association about their family financial security. Callers will get answers to general financial questions, will receive help in identifying financial professionals that put their clients' interests first and will learn how to protect themselves and their loved ones from financial fraud. FPA professionals also can help initiate a conversation about money with adult children of older parents to help prevent elder investment fraud and financial exploitation.
• Medical Questions: 888-303-0430. Callers to this number can get advice from health care professionals about medical issues, such as mild cognitive impairment, that can impact an older person's ability to make wise and safe financial decisions and can increase their vulnerability to elder financial abuse and exploitation. The health care professionals can help callers recognize the warning signs of vulnerability to financial abuse in themselves or loved ones and suggest referral routes for further medical screening.
• Financial Abuse Questions: 888-303-3297. Callers to this number will speak with an adult protective servicesprofessional about elder financial abuse and strategies for keeping themselves or older loved ones independent. Callers can get information on how to recognize the most common ways that older adults are financially exploited and methods for preventing elder financial abuse.  APS professionals also will help callers take the proper steps if they suspect that a loved one is currently being financially abused or exploited.