Hear Their Voices; Share our Resources

Join us at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on June 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM (Eastern Time) for a meaningful conference focused on protecting New Hampshire's most vulnerable citizens from financial exploitation and abuse. Share the stories of survivors and professionals who work with them to learn innovative strategies to combat this ever evolving problem.

AM Session 1: Cognitive Decline and Financial Decision-Making
This workshop will review how dementia impacts safety, how to recognize signs of money problems, and will review tips for helping to manage financial concerns. Strategies for guarding against financial abuse and fraud will be included, as well as helpful resources.
Presented by: Melissa Grenier, LCSW has two Social Work degrees and has worked in a variety of settings serving people living with memory loss including elder guardianship, long-term care, inpatient geriatric psychiatric care, home and others. She has worked for the Alzheimer's Association, MA/NH Chapter, for thirteen years, and is currently the Regional Manager for the State of New Hampshire. Her role includes overseeing the operations of the Bedford, NH, regional office, and providing the Alzheimer's Association's wide range of programs, services and trainings across NH.

AM Session 2: Looking for Love in all the wrong places--NOT

Hear the compelling story of a Romance Scam Survivor. Feel it from the victim's side then grab onto survival with both hands? Follow the scam from teh freind request during the lockdown of COVID, through the gaining of trust, allowing love to blossom, to the requests for moeny and being made to face the reality too heavy to carry. Walk on the path to recovery only to find there is no help, victim blaming is alive and well, and the fallout of haivng no money is a cavernous pit with no place to land.

Presented by: Kate Kleinert, national spokesperson for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. Ms. Kleinert has testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Aging, Presented at Women's Convening at he White House, appeared on the Tamron Hall Show, Good Mroning America, Public Boradcasting Network, ABC, CBS and NBS as well as several resional and local station. She has been interviewd by the NY Times, and is the

AM Session 3: New Hampshire's Data Privacy Act

Scams against the elderly are fueled by rampant sales and sharing of detailed personal data. The New Hampshire Data Privacy Act provides New Hampshire consumers data privacy rights that allow people to access, delete, and correct inaccuracies in their personal data. It also allows consumers to opt out of targeted advertising and data sales. This Act has been actively enforced by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office for over a year. In this presentation, members of the Attorney General’s office will describe the way the Act operates and show consumers how to exercise their rights so they may reduce the amount of data that businesses have about them.

Presented by: Warren Cormack, JP, CIPP/US, CIPM, Assistant Attorney General, Data Privacy Unit, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, Office of Attorney General

AM Session 4: Investigating and Prosecuting Contractor Fraud

This session will provide a general overview of the scope of contractor-related fraud in New Hampshire, best practices for investigating contractors who engage in fraudulent conduct, and the challenges law enforcement may encounter in investigating and prosecuting such contractors. The session will include a case study of an investigation and prosecution handled by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office of a roofing contractor who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of deposit payments from over 20 victims, and who was later convicted of multiple counts of felony theft.

Presented by: Zach Frish, Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection and Antitrust Bureau, Office of Attorney General

PM Session 1: Cause the Pause: How NH RSA 383-A:5-5121-a Empowers Financial Institutions

Using a case study and written procedures, this will be an informal workshop that will review the process financial institutions use when they have enacted the statutory hold on financial transactions. Beginning with the background of the case study the presenter will outline what triggered the concern including red flags, branch conversations and customer conversations. We’ll then take a step-by-step approach to the procedure document that I use that outlines communication with the customers and reporting to BAAS and the Banking Department

Presented by: Barbara Graziano, Esq., First Seacoast Bank, a licensed attorney in Commonwealth of Mass, Compliance and BSA Officer at First Seacoast Bank

PM Session 2: Our Bright Light : A multi-agency approach to addressing financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.

This session will focus on ways to partner the individuality and strengths of Adult Protective Services and Law Enforcement to provide subtle forensic interviews with visible compassion, empathy and support ot those affected by financial exploitation, and will highlight the ideas, resources, and tools used to build trust and respect in our work.

Presented by: Lisa Bell, BSBM, MA: is an Investigator for the State of New Hampshire, Adult Protective Services and works in the Southern District Office located in Nashua, NH. Her investigations include Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of vulnerable adults and she has established partnerships with law enforcement agencies, medical providers, attorneys, and community partners. Her work reflects a strong commitment to collaboration, safety, and healing to those she works with. She received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts from the University of Phoenix.

In parternship with: Senior Services Officer Shalyn Spencer, of the Salem NH Police Department, and Detectives Jamie Huertas and Bismark Montano of the Pelham NH Police Department

PM Session 3: Can I pet that Dog?

The implementation of comfort dogs in community relations, victim interviews, and the overall reduction of stress for victims of crime and their families. Get ready for an informative PowerPoint presentation about Mason, the Portsmouth Police comfort dog's training and uses. Learn about his depoyments and how he has been instrumental in promoting trusting relationships with our community and aging population. And if you are lucky, Mason will let you pet him during the presentation!

Presented by: Detective Rochelle Jones was hired by the Portsmouth Police Department in 2002. She is a U.S. Army Veteran; and former corrections officer. She is assigned as the Community Outreach Coordinator, Mason the Comfort Dog’s Handler, and the Senior Services Liaison. She is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the community and providing safety & educational trainings. Det. Jones is a Crisis Hostage Negotiator, CISM and Peer Support team member, serves on the NH FAST board, and is on the NH NAMI Crisis Intervention Team Faculty. She is a past recipient of the Women Leaders in Alzheimer’s Association Policy Award. Det. Jones is hardworking, friendly, and compassionate. She is dedicated to being Mason’s Mom, helping other first responders, and caring for the community where she was raised, lives, and continues to serve.

Mason the Comfort Dog is a 2 ½ year old, black American Labrador Retriever, and the Portsmouth police department’s 1st Comfort Dog! Mason comes from a non-profit organization called Hero Pups who trains and provides comfort, emotional support, service, and therapy dogs to first responders and Veterans. His handler/Mom is Det. Rochelle Jones. Mason helps boost morale for police officers, city personnel, and their families and is available for victim interviews to reduce stress. In between, he also makes appearances at community events, schools, assisted living facilities, and wherever else he is needed that is within his responsibilities. He holds several American Kennel Club titles and is a certified Therapy Dog. When Mason is not working, he enjoys watching Judge Judy with his mom, playing ball, swimming, and traveling.

PM Session 4: Federal Prosecutions of Elder Fraud Cases

This session will examine federal prosecutions of elder fraud cases in New Hamsphire, the difficulty in prosecuting elder fraud cases, and how best to combat elder fraud.

Presented by: Alexander Chen, JD Assistant US Attorney, U.S. Attorney Office-District Of New Hampshire

Alexander S. Chen is an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire. He prosecutes primarily white-collar cases, including elder fraud cases, and serves as the office’s Elder Justice coordinator. AUSA Chen received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Harvard College in 2013, and his law degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 2017. After graduating from law school, AUSA Chen clerked for Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and Judge Norman H. Stahl of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and was a litigation associate at Ropes & Gray in Boston before becoming an AUSA.

LPM Session 1: Elderly impersonation Scams and Crypto Currency/How to fight back.

This session will provide an overview of how the elderly are victimized by sophisticated impersonation scams with a focus on exactly how the scammers receive their payments when cryptocurrency is hte medium of exchange. The Presenter will demonstrate how simple legislation may be drafted to thwart the ease by which the scmamers have been able to receive payments from victims.

Presented by: Edward Myslik, Principal Consumer Credit Examiner, State of Maine, Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection

LPM Session 2: Accounting for Accountability
Work through an actual financial abuse case with a team, hands-on exercise using quick financial analysis tools to identify potential areas of concern. Learn to decipher the financial red flags, and dive deep into a reported incident of financial exploitation. The workshop will conclude with an overview of the analysis prepared for the successfully prosecuted case you have just reviewed.
Presented by: Carol Guyer is a Financial Research Analyst with the NH Department of Justice where she provides financial analysis for civil and criminal litigation of financial cases including Elder Financial Abuse cases. Carol joined the NH DOJ with 31 years of auditing experience at the NH Department of Revenue. While at the NH Department of Revenue, she served as a Financial Manager, Tax Auditor, Internal Auditor and Risk Assessment Officer. She was the National Chair of the Federation of Tax Administrators Tobacco Section. Her innovation, tenacity, and cooperation was awarded with the Charles Mills Award of Excellence. Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a Gradate Certificate in Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigations from Southern NH University.

LPM Session 3: 603 Legal/Consumer Protection Services: Another layer of legal support.

Learn about how 603 Legal Consumer Protection Attorney Meredith Byerly, and her staff provide another layer of support to older adult victims of exploitation and financial abuse. With an emphasis on domestic violence related financial abuse, this workshop will expand your knowledge of the resources available to New Hampshire's most vulnerable.

Presenter: Meredith Byerly, 603 Legal

LPM Session 4: Lessons from Southern NH: How Police Department Social Workers can intervene in elder abuse cases.

This presentation, led by a Nashua Police Department Social Worker, will highlight the types of calls the department recieves, how social workers can intervene, and how they work collaboratively with community partners to address financial scams.

Presenter: Leah Elliot, Social Worker, Nashua Police Department

Sharing the day: The afternoon wrap up

Complete your program evaluations in exchange for your certificate of attendance. Share your experiences from the day, and make sure to exchange business cards with your new network.

Info: Session AM1: Cognitive Decline and and Financial Decision Making : Melissa Grenier:

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

New Hampshire Institute of Politics, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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