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Crime, Legal & Safety

​​ABUSE & NEGLECT

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  • Residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes who believe they are being abused, neglected, or treated unfairly should contact the Upper Shore Aging's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. The Ombudsman works only at the resident's direction and takes action only with the resident's consent. Ombudsman services are confidential and free of charge.  ​​​​

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & STALKING 

  • The Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence is the central point of access for domestic violence assistance within Talbot County. The 24/7 Hotline is (800) 927-4673 or send a secure email here. They even offer pet safety, so you do not have to leave your pet behind!​

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides crisis intervention services 24/7 through three contact methods: call (800) 799-7233, text “START” to 88788, chat. They also offer AI chat.

  • The Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence​ is a coalition of advocacy programs for victims of domestic violence and stalking in Maryland. ​Click here for resources to seek help and stay safe. 

  • The Maryland Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program helps individuals who have relocated or are about to relocate, in an effort to keep their perpetrators from finding them. Click here for more information, call​ (410) 260-3875, o​r email​ safe.athome@maryland.gov.

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FINANCIAL PRODUCTS & SERVICES

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) regulates the offering

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  • If you have a complaint with a financial product or service, you can report this to CFPB. After your complaint is filed, CFPB will work to get a response from the company you reported.

and provision of consumer financial products or services under federal consumer financial laws and educates and empowers consumers to make better-informed financial decisions.

FRAUD - FINANCIAL

  • If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at (833) 372–8311, a special program of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime.

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FRAUD - IDENTITY THEFT

  • Identity theft is the illegal acquisition of your personal information (e.g., Social Security number, date of birth), while identity fraud is the subsequent use of that stolen data to deceive others for personal gain. In short, theft is obtaining the data; fraud is using it.

FRAUD - MAIL​

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  • To report any suspicious texts or emails related to the U.S. Postal Service, forward the text or email to spam@uspis.gov, and then delete the text or email.

FRAUD & BILLING DISPUTES - MEDICARE / MEDICAID / HEALTHCARE / RELATED MATTERS

  • HEALTH CARE FRAUD & MEDICARE/MEDICAID FRAUD: Contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General at (800) 447-8477, or submit your complaint online here.

  • PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE: The Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) of the Maryland State government helps Maryland consumers resolve billing disputes with healthcare providers and with private insurance coverage disputes through free mediation services. Start the process online here.

FRAUD - OTHER

  • Report anything you believe may be a fraud, scam, or bad business practice to the Federal Trade Commission. Once a user submits a report, they will receive a tracking number and guidance on next steps. Alternatively, you can complete the process over the phone at (877) 382-4357.

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  • All digital or electronic fraud and scams, including those that originated via email, online, or social media (e.g., romance scams, tech support scams), should also file a complaint  with the FBI's, Internet Crime Complaint Center.

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GUARDIANSHIP

  • Guardianship is the appointment by a court of a person or entity to make personal and/or property decisions for an individual whom the court finds cannot make decisions for themselves.

  • Click here for the Department of Justice's overview of guardianship, less restrictive options and alternatives, key concepts and resources, how to report mistreatment and abuse by guardians and other fiduciaries, and additional resources.

INTERNET / CYBER CRIME

  • You may file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of an Internet crime, which can be everything from cyber-enabled frauds and scams to cybercrime.

  • Trained analysts at IC3 will review and research the complaint and disseminate information to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for criminal, civil, or administrative action, as appropriate. ​

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INVESTMENTS

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has a free Securities Helpline for Seniors that senior investors can call to get assistance or to raise concerns about brokerage accounts and investments.

  • https://www.finra.org/investors/have-problem/helpline-seniors or 844-57-HELPS (844-574-3577)

  • Securities Fraud

  • Contact the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330, or online at www.sec.gov or www.sec.gov/complaint/select.shtml.

  • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): The SEC has a three-part mission: (1) Protect investors; (2) Maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and (3) Facilitate capital formation. You can file a complaint or provide the SEC with tips on potential securities law violations via the SEC’s website. Information reported to the SEC may alert the SEC to broker or firm misconduct, an unfair practice in the securities industry that needs to be changed, or the latest fraud.

  • https://www.sec.gov or 800-SEC-0330 or 202-551-6551

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Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): The mission of CFTC is to promote the integrity, resilience, and vibrancy of the U.S. derivatives markets through sound regulation. The CFTC Division of Enforcement investigates and prosecutes alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and Commission regulations. The CFTC Reparations program provides an inexpensive, impartial, and efficient forum for customer complaints against futures industry professionals for alleged violations of the Commodity Exchange Act. The CFTC also takes complaints of fraud/suspicious activity involving cryptocurrency or other digital assets.

https://www.cftc.gov

Report suspicious activities or information to the CFTC: 866-366-2382

File a complaint with the CFTC Reparations program: 202-418-5250

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LEGAL SERVICES FOR SENIORS

  • Brookletts Place partners with Shore Legal Access to provide legal services to members in need, including legal advice, counseling, and representation. Priority is given to cases such as eviction, protective service, utilities, consumer protection, employment, and age discrimination.​​

  • Click here to learn more. 

SEXUAL VIOLENCE

  • Sexual violence is a continuum that includes rape, sexual assault, child sex trafficking, child sexual abuse, incest, sextortion, stalking, and sexual harassment.

  • National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (RAINN): Calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline gives you access to a range of free services. Call to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

  • Maryland Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program helps those individuals who have relocated or are about to relocate, in an effort to keep their perpetrators from finding them. For more information abou​t the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program, click here, call​ (410) 260-3875 o​r email​ safe.athome@maryland.gov.
    https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline or 800-656-4673 (24/7)

    ​

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SCAMS

SOCIAL SECURITY

  • Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG): The OIG is directly responsible for meeting the statutory mission of promoting economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of SSA programs and operations and to prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in such programs and operations. OIG investigates a variety of situations that may be considered fraud. You can report Social Security scams and other Social Security fraud, waste, and abuse to the SSA OIG.https://oig.ssa.gov or 800-269-0271​

TAXES

  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA): TIGTA provides independent oversight of IRS activities. TIGTA promotes the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the administration of the internal revenue laws. It is also committed to the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse within the IRS and related entities. You can report IRS imposter scams to TIGTA. You can also report fraud, waste, mismanagement, and abuse in IRS programs and operations to TIGTA.https://www.tigta.gov or 800-366-4484

VICTIMS OF CRIME SUPPORT SERVICES

  • The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services and the Maryland State Board of Victim Services understands that crime victims often feel frustrated and overwhelmed by the criminal justice system, particularly if they believe their rights may have been violated. If you are a crime victim, you are legally entitled to rights and services provided by Maryland agencies. If you are a crime victim, you are legally entitled to rights and services provided by Maryland agencies.

  • VictimConnect Resource Center: A weekday phone, chat, and text-based referral helpline for all victims of crime in the U.S. that provides emotional support, information, and individualized referrals. Click here to chat, or call/text (855) 484-2846.

  • The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has announced a new version of Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE®). This automated service can provide information on the custody status of offenders and upcoming court hearing dates.
    Phone: 1-866-634-8463

  • VINE Protective Order (VPO): If the protective order has been issued, you can register to receive notification via phone or email.
    Phone: 1-877-846-3420
    Online access: registervpo.com

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