AARP Teletown Hall Features Former Elder Abuse Prosecutor

AARP Wyoming will host a Teletown Hall with former elder abuse prosecutor Paul Greenwood at 6:30 p.m. on April 19. Greenwood will tell callers how to spot elder abuse and financial exploitations.

During his presentation, Greenwood will discuss elder abuse, caregiver theft, contractor fraud, distraction thefts, financial abuse that comes from those who pose as officials and more.

AARP Wyoming will call out to its members around 6:25 p.m. on April 19 to take part in the call. If you do not receive a call, but wish to join the presentation, call 1-833-380-0685. 

Former Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood was a lawyer in England for 13 years. After relocating to San Diego in 1991 he joined the DA's office in 1993. For twenty-two years, Paul headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution Unit at the San Diego DA's Office. In 1999, California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens. Greenwood has prosecuted over 750 felony cases of both physical and financial elder abuse. He has also prosecuted ten murder cases, including one death penalty case. 

In March 2018 Paul retired from the San Diego DA's office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018 he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office. Paul now spends much of his post retirement time consulting on elder abuse cases and providing training to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of National Adult Protective Services Association

AARP’s FraudWatch Network

Greenwood’s presentation is a part of AARP Wyoming’s focus on preventing fraud and scams in 2022. On April 22, AARP Wyoming will host paper shredding events of personal documents in Sheridan,  Rocks Springs, and Cheyenne. AARP Wyoming will host similar events in Casper and Gillete later this fall.

• The Sheridan event will take place from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Sheridan Commercial Company at 303 Broadway Street in Sheridan with on-site, secure paper shredding from Rid-A-Bush. To register and secure your drive up time, click here.
• In Rock Springs, shredding will take place from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Young At Heart Senior Center, 2400 Reagan Avenue with 307 Shredding acting as on-site shredder.  To register and secure your drive up time, click here.
• Those looking for paper shredding in Cheyenne are encouraged to go to the Laramie County Library, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., located at 2200 Pioneer Avenue, where Shred -It will have a truck available for on-site shredding.  To register and secure your drive up time, click here.

To avoid having your sensitive information compromised, security experts recommend shredding of the following types of materials:

• Old Documents:  Papers that carry your Social Security number, birth date, signature, account numbers, passwords or PINs.
• Banking:  Canceled or unused checks. Shred deposit slips and ATM and credit card receipts, once you receive your monthly statements.
• Credit Cards: Pre-approved credit card applications and incentive/gift checks from credit card companies.
• Medical: Unneeded medical bills.
• Investments: Investment account statements.
• Obsolete ID Cards: Expired driver’s licenses, medical insurance cards, and passports.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free resource for all. With AARP as your partner, you’ll learn how to proactively spot scams, get guidance from our fraud specialists if you’ve been targeted, and feel more secure knowing that we advocate at the federal, state, and local levels to protect consumers and enforce the law.

Get tips to spot and avoid scams like identity theft, investment fraud, and holiday scams, as well as ongoing updates from resources like Watchdog Alerts and a scam-tracking map that provides real-time alerts from law enforcement in your state.

If you've been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone. Our trained fraud specialists provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams in the future. The AARP Fraud Helpline, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. We also offer online support sessions for further emotional support.