Elder Financial Abuse

Types of Elder Financial Abuse

Elder financial abuse can take many forms. Essentially, it’s the unauthorized taking or use of a senior’s funds, assets, personal identity or property.

  • Stealing cash or property from an older person or their residence
  • Wrongfully misusing a senior’s funds that have been entrusted into the care of another person
  • Withdrawals from a senior’s bank or investment account—without consent or when the senior is unable to consent because of impairment
  • Using a senior’s credit or debit card, without permission
  • Persuading an older adult to sign a power of attorney (POA) at a time when they lack understanding because of dementia, or some other impairment
  • Forging a senior’s signature on a check, deed, power of attorney, will, codicil, or other commercial instrument or contract
  • False or misleading representations that induce the senior to transfer funds or obtain an unnecessary reverse mortgage with inflated fees
  • Sale of inappropriate products or services to an older adult (e.g. auto club membership when the senior no longer drives)
  • Inducing a senior to sign a will, codicil or other testamentary instrument
  • Adding names to a senior’s bank account, at a time when he/she is unable to understand the change to the account
  • Transactions involving coercion, manipulation or trickery of a vulnerable senior, known as “undue influence”
  • Scams and “confidence” games involving “home improvement,” phony charities, the lottery or sweepstakes, sweetheart “gifts,” or younger relatives who are in trouble overseas
  • Internet scams involving “phishing” emails that trick a senior into entering personal and or financial account information
  • Identity theft offenses