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Financial crimes against the elderly in the United States cost the victims at least $2.6 billion annually and that number is rising, says Elizabeth Loewy, the attorney in charge of the Elder Abuse Unit under Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. But dealing with the financial abuse of seniors requires a learning curve for the public and law enforcement, said Loewy, who successfully prosecuted Anthony Marshall, Brooke Russell Astor's son, in 2009 for defrauding the wealthy philanthropist. Among other misperceptions, relatives sometimes convince themselves they have a right to seniors' assets when seniors become mentally incapacitated. For law enforcement...