For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – State legislators are looking to increase the penalty on harming elderly Wisconsinites. State Senator Patrick Testin, who introduced a package of bills along with Representative John Macco, says that the package includes measures to increase penalties for people repeatedly convicted of scamming or abusing elders.

“It’s similar to what we do with child abuse cases here in the state,” he said, “And we want to send a clear message to anyone who would prey on the most vulnerable amongst us, that they receive stiff punishments.”

The Stevens Point Republican says one of the bills will allow bank tellers and store employees to deny financial services or sales to someone they suspect is being scammed.

“Those who work in these institutions run into this stuff time and time again on a daily basis,” he added. “So typically they can suspect or have a pretty good idea of when there might be fraudulent activity being proposed.”

That includes hefty wire transfers to people outside the country or large purchases of gift cards – two very common methods that scammers use to trick people out of their money.

Testin says right now all tellers can do is give advice that the victim is being scammed.

“These individuals that have fallen victim, prey to these scammers, they just don’t heed that advice and unfortunately people get defrauded,” he stated.

The package of bills got a public hearing at the State Capitol on Nov. 14.