Older adults lose at least $36 billion each year to financial exploitation, according to the National Council on Aging.
From stolen Social Security checks and forged financial documents to the theft of cash, jewelry and other assets, financial abuse remains one of the most pervasive crimes targeting seniors.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office has prosecuted numerous cases, and continues to urge families and caregivers to remain vigilant.
But identifying financial exploitation of older adults may be difficult. Older adults may be reluctant to say anything about what is happening to them out of embarrassment and shame, fear of reprisal, dependency on the perpetrator of the offense, or fear of further straining a family relationship.
Family members or close friends may be unaware of the situation, or they may be the individuals committing the financial exploitation.
Charles Schwab suggests using the nearby checklist to raise awareness and educate community members about financial exploitation of older adults.
The checklist includes multiple red flags. However, a red flag doesn’t necessarily mean the individual is being exploited, but the possibility should be considered and monitored.
When in doubt, err on the side of caution and report the activity using the resources listed below.
Checklist
- The inclusion of additional names on an older adult’s bank signature card
- Sudden changes in bank accounts or banking practices, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the older adult
- Unauthorized withdrawal of the older adult’s funds using their ATM card
- Provision of substandard care or bills left unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources
- Someone providing unnecessary services
- Discovery of a forged signature for financial transactions or for the titles of the older adult’s possessions
- New “friends” or helpers attempting to isolate an older, vulnerable adult or limit contact with relatives or old friends. Many schemers are initially incredibly helpful.
- Cognitive decline or loss of financial acumen
- Sudden changes to legal or financial documents, or suddenly missing documents, including wills, estate documents, insurance policies, retirement accounts, etc.
- Suddenly changing or turning off cell phone numbers or email addresses, another person answering their phone or oddly worded texts or email responses. This may indicate that someone has access to them and is “managing” communications.
- Giving away money, transferring assets to people, unusual spending behavior, checks being written to cash or the unexplained disappearance of cash or property
- Sudden increase in “bounced” checks and overdraft fees
- Older adult appears confused about the account balance or transactions on his or her account
- Caregiver appears to be getting paid too much or too often
- Significant increases in monthly expenses paid that may indicate expenses for persons other than the older adult
- Statements are sent to an address other than the older adult’s home
- Refinance of the older adult’s property, particularly with significant cash out or with the addition of new owners on the deed and, most particularly, without the new owners shown as co-borrowers on the loan
- Older adult acknowledges providing personal and account information to a solicitor via phone or email
- Excitement about winning a sweepstakes or lottery
Protect and Prevent
If you or someone you know is being financially exploited, tell someone you trust, report it to your local police and contact the FBI’s 1C3.gov for help. You also can contact the Justice Department’s National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1.833.372.8311.
Locally, you can contact reportfraud@countyofsb.org.
In addition to the checklist, please ensure your loved ones:
- Don’t give out their Social Security, credit card, or bank account numbers over phone or email
- Don’t allow unknown individuals into the home
- Don’t have work done on their home without getting written estimates from at least three reputable contractors
