AGENET, INC. PUBLISHES “TOP TEN RED FLAGS OF ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE” BY EDCOMM’S DR. LINDA EAGLE

(MADISON, WI) – April 15, 2006

AgeNet, Inc., one of the most comprehensive online resources available to elders, has published Dr. Linda Eagle’s “Top Ten Red Flags of Elder Financial Abuse.” Dr. Eagle is President of the New York-based The Edcomm Group, and a leading expert in the campaign to promote elder financial abuse awareness by educating banks and their employees about detection, prevention and regulatory compliance.

With more than 2 million cases per year, financial abuse of elders is the number one crime committed against persons age 65 and older. According to Dr. Eagle, “Just as doctors are often the first to spot the signs of physical abuse, front line bank personnel have the best perspective from which to spot elder financial abuse.”

Elder financial abuse is defined as the illegal taking, misuse or concealment of funds, property, or assets of vulnerable elders, either without their consent or with consent obtained by trickery, intimidation, or force. Elder financial abuse can involve anything from a telemarketer's solicitation on behalf of a fake charity to a family member's misuse of power of attorney.

According to Dr. Eagle, the following are the top ten signs banks and others, such as family caregivers, should be aware of to detect possible elder financial abuse:

1. Sudden changes in an elder’s bank accounts or banking practices.

2. Uncharacteristic and unexplained withdrawals of large sums of money by an elder or someone with Power of Attorney for an elder.

3. Large credit card transactions or checks written to unusual recipients such as salesmen, telemarketers or "Cash."

4. Abrupt changes in a will or other financial document; transfer of an elder’s assets to a family member or acquaintance without a reasonable explanation.

5. Complaints of stolen or misplaced credit cards, valuables, checkbooks or checks from social security, pensions and annuities.

6. Elders who appear nervous when accompanied by another individual or give far-fetched explanations of why they need money.

7. Elders who appear puzzled by increases in incurred debt or credit card transactions.

8. A person accompanying an elder who bullies him or her into making a withdrawal or does not allow the elder to speak for him or herself.

9. New signatories added to an elder’s account or newly formed joint accounts between an elder and another individual.

10. Possible forged signatures on financial transactions, documents for transfer of assets or new applications for items such as credit cards.

Dr. Eagle is frequently invited to speak on a range of topics including distance learning, adult education, compliance training, teller training, ethics training, technological advances in training and education, and business solutions. Linda’s educational background in psychology and communications and her experience in organizational consulting give her unique insight into the practical application of training and communication programs that provide measurable benefits. She has provided consulting and training services to hundreds of organizations in a variety of industries. Published in many national publications including USA Today, American Banker, Forbes, MSNBC and the Washington Post, Linda has also appeared on several local and national radio and television news programs.

AgeNet, Inc. operates a comprehensive, national eldercare network to meet the specific needs of the fast growing aging population and their adult care-giving children. This eldercare network brings together suppliers of eldercare products and services with businesses such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health care providers, health systems, and organizations or companies with employee assistance programs.

The Edcomm Group is a 19-year-old multimedia education and communication consulting firm specializing in the development of creative business solutions that improve productivity, customer service and market share - providing bottom-line results. The Edcomm Group (www.edcomm.com) (www.bankersacademy.com) is headquartered in New York City with an Advanced Design Center located in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

For more information, please contact:

Linda Eagle
President, The Edcomm Group
1-888-4EDCOMM
linda.eagle@edcomm.com