Elder financial exploitation is the fastest-growing form of elder abuse today and it is a crime that deprives older adults of their resources and their independence.  According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2024 Elder Fraud Report, over 147,000 victims ages 60+ reported losses of almost $4.9 billion, representing a 43% increase in losses over losses reported in 2023. The average lossChamauri Ferguson, a Senior Family Services Specialist with the Richmond City Department of Social Services, where she works in the Adult Protective Services Unit (APS). With eight years of experience—from intern to senior APS worker—Chamauri is deeply committed to upholding the principles of APS: promoting dignity, safety, and self-determination for vulnerable adults. She’s especially passionate about addressing the sharp rise in financial exploitation and believes that true prevention requires strong collaboration across systems. for 60+ victims exceeded $83,000.

The VBA is partnering with representatives from local, state and federal organizations to develop a seminar designed for any staff who may come into contact with elderly or vulnerable adults in the course of employment or those who review the financial documents, records, or transactions of an elderly or vulnerable adult in connection with providing financial services to such elderly or vulnerable adult.

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Agenda & Session Descriptions

8:00-8:30am	Registration
8:30-8:45am	Welcome & Introductory Remarks DeMarion Johnston | Virginia Bankers Association
8:45-9:45am	Elder Financial Abuse – Through the Eyes of the Predator John Schwartz | Center for Combatting Elder Financial Abuse
Through the use of cases of elder financial abuse that occurred throughout the United States, including Virginia, John will discuss how devastating this crime truly is. Additionally, strategies will be shared that seniors and their loved ones can use to “harden the target” and prevent financial predators from stealing their life savings. He will also share numerous resources available for free on here, to help seniors and their loved one better understand this crime.
9:45-9:55am	Networking Break
9:55-11:05am	Trends in Elder Financial Exploitation & SARs Best Practices
11:05-11:15am	Networking Break
11:15am-12:05pm	Partnering with Federal Law Enforcement – When/Why/How
12:05-12:50pm	Lunch
12:50-1:20pm	Recognizing Indicators & Working With Your Local Agency Paige McCLeary | Adult Protective Service (APS) Division Director Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services
1:20-2:15pm	Elder Financial Exploitation Prevention Panel  Lindsay Combs | Shenandoah Valley Social Services Eraina Hill | Fairfax County Department of Family Services
During this interactive panel discussion, attendees will hear – and be able to ask questions of – a panel of case workers from Adult Protective Services in order to better partner and protect their customers from financial exploitation.
2:15-2:30pm	Networking Break
2:30-3:25pm	Free Resources to Protect Older Customers Sam Kunjukunju | ABA Foundation
Elder financial exploitation is a complex issue — and combating it requires a multifaceted approach. The ABA Foundation’s Sam Kunjukunju will share about key resources that can help you and your bank protect older customers in your community. Learn about accessing banker training and free materials to educate customers on topics like avoiding scams, identity theft, and financial caregiving.
3:25-3:30pm	Closing Remarks/Adjourn

Meet the Speakers & Panelists!

Lindsay Combs is the Family Services Supervisor for the Adult Services and Adult Protective Services Unit at Shenandoah Valley Social Services, serving the City of Staunton, Augusta County, and the City of Waynesboro. Lindsay and her APS team investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly and incapacitated adults. She is a 2007 graduate of James Madison University, possessing a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Lindsay began her career as a Paralegal in the Augusta County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office before joining the APS team at Shenandoah Valley Social Services in 2008. In 2010, Lindsay began working as Probation and Parole Officer for District 39 in Harrisonburg and later returned to Shenandoah Valley Social Services in 2016. Lindsay has a passion for serving and protecting the most vulnerable in our community. She has conducted numerous joint investigations with law enforcement, served as guardian and conservator for many vulnerable adults, chairs the Augusta County and Staunton Elder Abuse Multi-disciplinary Teams, serves on the Ethics Committee for Augusta Health Hospital and the Board for the Greater Augusta Coalition Against Adult Abuse. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children and gardening.

Chamauri Ferguson is a Senior Family Services Specialist with the Richmond City Department of Social Services, where she works in the Adult Protective Services Unit (APS). With eight years of experience—from intern to senior APS worker—Chamauri is deeply committed to upholding the principles of APS: promoting dignity, safety, and self-determination for vulnerable adults. She’s especially passionate about addressing the sharp rise in financial exploitation and believes that true prevention requires strong collaboration across systems.

Eraina Hill is a Family Safety Practitioner with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Adult Protective Services (APS) Unit. In her role, Eraina investigates reports received for clients who may be at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation and assesses their need for ongoing protective services. Eraina also serves as the Financial Exploitation Coordinator, spearheading the Financial Exploitation Prevention Task Force, a multidisciplinary collaboration around financial exploitation for older and incapacitated adults and serves as the point-person for all things financial exploitation. Prior to this position, Eraina worked in various capacities in the Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations District Court. Eraina received her Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness from Virginia Commonwealth University and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph’s University.

Samuel Kunjukunju is the Vice President of Consumer Education at the American Bankers Association. He designs and implements program to support the banking industry’s efforts to protect consumers and engage vulnerable communities through the ABA Foundation. Sam oversees the Foundation’s national financial education programming and serves as the subject matter expert on elder financial exploitation. Sam holds a Master of Public Health as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester.

Paige McCleary has been the Director of the Adult Protective Services (APS) Division at the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) since July 2015. She is responsible for leading the Division’s efforts to improve and strengthen APS and Adult Services programs in Virginia through legislative, budgetary, and regulatory initiatives and oversees Division staff who train, monitor, and provide technical assistance to 120 local departments of social services. She previously served in the role of Program Consultant for the APS Division from 2007 to 2015. Paige has also been a medical social worker in hospital systems in Richmond and Charlottesville and started her career in Richmond working with adults experiencing homelessness. Paige received her BA in Art History from the University of Virginia and MSW from Smith College School for Social Work.

John Schwartz is a retired FBI Special Agent with 24 years of investigative experience. He also served in the U.S. Army for nine years after graduating from West Point in 1986. John founded the Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, on February 8, 2021. The Center is based in Haymarket, VA, and helps educate and protect our nation’s 60 million elders. The mission of the Center is as follows: Lead the way in protecting the elderly and their families from predators who commit elder financial abuse. The Center provides education on how to detect financial predators that target, groom, and take control of vulnerable elders for financial exploitation. The Center has worked with, or given presentations to: Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, West Chester University Criminal Justice Program, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Pennsylvania American Legion, American Society of Criminology, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, AARP – Virginia, Rotary International, and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors – Colorado Chapter.

Registration Information

In Person

Members: $295

Non-Members: $595

In Person registration includes light breakfast items, lunch, and snacks.

Virtual

Members: $225

Non-Members: $525

Virtual: For bankers unable to attend in person, this training will be live-streamed.  Each registration will purchase one log-in.  Please note, that due to speaker requirements, we are unable to record this training for later viewing.

cancellation policy

All cancellations will be charged a $25 administrative fee. Cancellations received after September 11, 2025 will be charged a $75 administrative fee. Substitutions are allowed prior to the beginning of the seminar.

Location 

In-Person
Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (VSCPA)
4309 Cox Road
Glen Allen, VA 23060

Virtual/Zoom
Zoom details will be provided at a later date.

Hotel Information

The VBA has negotiated a rate of $131/night, plus applicable taxes and fees. To take advantage of the negotiated rate, reservations must be made by August 15, 2025. Click here to make your reservation. Reservations may also be made by calling 800-325-0720 and referring to the group number 10154107.

Hotel amenities include complimentary hot breakfast from 6:00am to 9:30am and complimentary evening drinks and snacks from 5:30pm to 7:00 p.m.

Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond
11049 W Broad St
Glen Allen, VA 23060