Identifying elder financial abuse
What is more wretched than stealing and deceiving the elderly for their money? Elder financial abuse, a matter that was recently brought to the spotlight by Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney, is a crime of exploiting senior citizens for monetary gain. Rooney sued his stepson and others for deceiving him into believing he was on the brink of poverty and forcing him to keep working as they swindle millions using his name.
Once the case was settled, everyone was all of a sudden more aware of this urgent matter. So, how do you recognize this crime and stop it?
Elder Financial Abuse 101
This crime involves illegal and improper use of a senior citizen’s funds, resources and property. Identifying this crime is easy, however, they largely happen within the family. Unless other parties observe and become involved, these crimes go undetected.
The crimes involved in elder financial abuse involve trickery, deception, forceful access to funds and properties of a senior citizen. Plenty of people who’re guilty of this include caregivers, fraudsters and, sadly, family members.
Here are instances of the exploitations these fraudsters do:
-Forging the signature of an elderly to gain access to personal checks, credit cards and other financial accounts.
-Stealing prized possessions, cash, and pension checks
-Theft of identity- Most victims of this are senile elderly. Fraudsters take advantage of the elderly’s confinement in a nursing facility and make use of his identity for personal or business transactions. At times, even healthcare companies are guilty of this crime. Some charge excessively for unnecessary healthcare services. While you’ll find those that provide special “prizes”, which in the end forces the elderly to buy. It is a good thing there are plenty of vigilant bank fraud lawyers taking crucial measures to fight against these complaints.
How to deal with elder financial abuse
Hiring a great bank fraud lawyer to look into how an elderly’s funds are getting spent is a way of fighting elder financial abuse.
Search for a company that works on elder financial abuse cases. There are many who take a look at and litigate fraud actions involving insurance and banking claims. A bank fraud lawyer in this agency may even investigate wrongful death cases.
Below are a few other ways you are able to prevent this abuse from happening:
-Keep your communication lines open with your elderly relatives. Check on them every once in awhile.
-Observe, observe, observe! Be perceptive about any behavioral or physical change.
-Do a comprehensive research on the background of your caregiver! It is unadvisable to select one through an advertisement. Seek out licensed and bonded agency. You can also hire an investigator to analyze the credentials of your caregiver. This helps to ensure that your relative is in good hands and the caregiver is not a convicted felon of some sort.
-Keep an inventory of all jewelry, expensive gadgets, and properties. Make sure all the valuables are stored in a safe place.
When you know an individual who could be a victim of this sort of crime, it is best to inform the authorities or refer a good bank fraud lawyer who can help them. If you know the family and don’t wish to be called as somebody that meddles in family affairs, you can search the internet and find anonymous hotlines you may call.
Abbie Kirby is a Senior CEO that knows a very good bank fraud lawyer who’s well-informed in elder financial abuse.
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