Bill in the works to protect elderly from financial fraud

House District 14 (Arecibo and Hatillo) Rep. Edgar Robles Rivera on Wednesday condemned “the alarming quantity of cases of ‘financial fraud’ that are being reported in Puerto Rico against beloved older adults who many times are scammed, sadly, by their own children or family.”

“Now is the time to teach a lesson to those who rob our beloved elderly,” the lawmaker said. “Don’t rob them, because you will have to return the money and go straight to jail,” he said, adding that “we will be giving life, as a part of our legislative measure, to an educational campaign that will have the name “Don’t rob those who gave you life.” “Right now, we are eyeing a case in the region of Bayamón [in which an individual] stole $500 from ATMs and paid her debts with the money of the elderly mother,” Robles Rivera said. “This case has been referred to the Department of Justice.” He said he is preparing legislation that will include monetary punishment and jail terms for transgressors.