Protecting Our Parents: Rethinking Elder Fraud Prevention

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On the latest episode of The Get Ready Money Podcast, I’m joined by Walt Laskos, podcaster and Elder Fraud Prevention Advocate. 

Walt and I dive into the hidden epidemic of elder financial abuse, how it often strikes close to home, and the critical role financial institutions and families play in stopping it. We also explore practical strategies for protecting our aging loved ones—and ourselves.

Key Takeaways:

• What is elder fraud? It’s not always strangers—80–90% of cases involve someone the victim knows, often a family member.
• Why financial institutions matter. Banks and credit unions have a duty to recognize and respond to red flags.
• Scams have patterns. Learn the common tactics used by fraudsters and how to recognize them.
• Pause, think, and verify. A simple moment of reflection can prevent a costly mistake.
• Helping your aging parents. From starting the conversation to setting up safeguards, you’ll learn actionable steps to make a difference.

Connect with Walt Laskos:  

• Website (here)
• LinkedIn (here)
• YouTube (here)

Podcast:

• One-on-One with Walt Laskos (here) 

Referenced in this episode:

• Gentreo (here)

Bio: 

Walt Laskos is the CEO and Owner of Laskos Communications, a private consultancy through which he provides his expertise grounded in his 40-plus years of public relations, communications, and media production experience. His professional career extends from coast to coast, groomed and influenced by a host of companies and organizations where he held positions of responsibility within the communications and media professions, from KeyCorp and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Western Corporate Federal

Credit Union; and most recently, the Cooperative Credit Union Association where he served as chief communications officer.

Walt is a Credit Union Development Educator and credit union industry veteran of more than 20 years. He hosts a nationally distributed podcast, One-on-One with Walt Laskos, and also serves as blogger and frequent speaker advocating for the education and protection of older adults from financial scams and fraud. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Siena College and a Master of Divinity from the Washington Theological Union.

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The Get Ready Money Podcast and its guests do not provide investment advice. All content is for educational purposes. Guest opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Get Ready Money Podcast and Tony Steuer.