THE EDCOMM GROUP’S DR. LINDA EAGLE TO APPEAR ON CNBC MORNING CALL TO DISCUSS ELDER FINANCIAL ABUSE

(NEW YORK, NY) — April 16, 2006

Dr. Linda Eagle, President of The Edcomm Group and noted expert on elder financial abuse and banking compliance, will appear on CNBC’s Morning Call to discuss financial issues facing the baby boomer generation.

Airing on Monday, April 17, 2006 from 10:00-12:00 (EST), Dr. Eagle will comment on elder financial abuse, how to identify it, prevent it and what customers can expect from their banks. Dr. Eagle will also discuss the responsibility of banks regarding regulatory compliance and customer protection.

The Edcomm Group has been a driving force in the campaign to educate bank personnel about elder financial abuse. Edcomm’s course, Focus on Elder Financial Abuse, is designed to help banks cope with the new laws targeting elder financial abuse by teaching front line staff about how to best serve their elderly customers while reducing risk to the bank.

With the first of the baby boomers turning 60 this year — and many of them functioning as care-givers for elderly relatives — it’s crucial that they be aware of the disturbing progression of elder financial abuse and what they can do about it. Standing at 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.

CNBC is a group of cable and satellite television business news channels from the U.S., owned and operated by NBC Universal, a joint venture of General Electric and Vivendi Universal. CNBC and its international spin-offs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. CNBC provides a variety of programs throughout the business day presenting reports on U.S. businesses, updates of stock market indices and commodities prices, interviews with CEOs and business leaders, and commentary from investment professionals.

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