Financial Abuse

Finanical abuse is the theft or misuse of money, property or personal belongings, taken without consent or under pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance.

Types

Theft of money or possessions
Fraud, scamming
Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
Employees taking a loan from a person using the service
Undue pressure, threat or influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs or access to benefits
Misuse of personal allowance in a care home
Misuse of benefits or direct payments in a family home
Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress
False representation, using another person's bank account, cards or documents
Exploitation of a person’s money or assets, e.g. unauthorised use of a car
Misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority
Rogue trading – eg. unnecessary or overpriced property repairs and failure to carry out agreed repairs or poor workmanship

Possible signs

Missing personal possessions
Unexplained lack of money
Unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
The person allocated to manage financial affairs is evasive or uncooperative
The family or others show unusual interest in the assets of the person
Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court appointed deputy or power of attorny
Recent changes in deeds or title to property
Rent arrears and eviction notices
A lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
Failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
Disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources, e.g. insufficient food in the house
Unnecessary property repairs