The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed legislation this week to deter scammers, particularly those targeting senior citizens and vulnerable residents.

“Financial scams are on the rise, and older residents are afraid to pick up a call or open an email to avoid being a victim,” the bill’s sponsor, council member Kate Stewart, said in a Tuesday press release.

In February, an investigation by police departments across the state revealed that Marylanders have lost more than $6 million to call center schemes, in which scammers convince victims to give up their money through bank and wire transfers, cryptocurrency exchanges or gold bars.

The law, named the Financial Exploitation Protection Act, prohibits the use of deception, intimidation or undue influence to obtain money, property or services from an individual who is at least 68 years old or a vulnerable adult. It also defines the term “vulnerable adult” as an adult who lacks the physical or mental capacity to provide for their daily needs.

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Scams are already illegal in the county. But the new law empowers the county’s Office of Consumer Protection to operate a voluntary mediation program to help scam victims recover losses.

The legislation is supported by SEEC, a local organization supporting adults with disabilities.

“We believe that people with disabilities have the right to live lives of their choosing in their community, directing their decisions with independence and authority,” said Karen Lee, CEO of SEEC. “We also recognize that those with [intellectual and developmental] disabilities are more likely to fall victim to financial abuse.”

Inspector general report finds issues at recreation department

The county Office of the Inspector General found deficiencies in the Department of Recreation’s background check practices and financial controls during a recent audit.

According to the report, the inspector general’s office found that the department paid more than $5.8 million in invoices without adequate supporting documentation and violated the county’s purchasing card policy.

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The OIG also discovered that the department has not implemented formal policies and procedures for conducting criminal background investigations, despite legal requirements and earlier OIG recommendations.

In response to the findings, the county’s Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno said the county will ensure that the department addresses these issues.

Kisha Davis named president of American Academy of Family Physicians

Dr. Kisha Davis, Montgomery County’s chief health officer, was named president of American Academy of Family Physicians on Wednesday. In the role, Davis will represent 124,500 family physicians, residents and medical students nationwide, according to the organization’s press release.

“I’ve always valued having a foot in both the policy and clinical worlds,” Davis said. “Everyone deserves a family physician — someone who knows about diabetes and depression, the medical history and the story behind it.”

As Montgomery County’s chief health officer since 2022, Davis has led public health initiatives and helped inform county officials on health issues.