Protect Seniors: Your Emergency Guide to Stopping Elder Financial Abuse.
Title/Concept: "Emergency Action Plan: What to Do If You Suspect Financial Elder Abuse"
Format: A clear, step-by-step crisis guide (e.g., checklist, infographic, detailed article).
Content Points:
-
Immediate Financial Lockdown:
- How to freeze credit with all three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion).
- Closing compromised bank accounts and opening new ones at a different financial institution.
- Cancelling all existing credit/debit cards and requesting new ones (make sure the "automatic updater" feature for merchants is turned off).
- Setting up fraud alerts.
-
Reporting the Abuse:
- Who to contact: Adult Protective Services (APS) – explain what they do and how to find local offices.
- Law Enforcement: Report to local police, and if they are unhelpful, escalate to the county sheriff's office or State Police financial crimes unit. Emphasize using the term "elder abuse."
- Reporting to financial institutions involved (banks, credit card companies).
- Reporting to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
-
Gathering Evidence & Documentation:
- The importance of documenting everything: dates, times, amounts, names of individuals spoken to, copies of bank statements, police report numbers, any suspicious communications.
-
Seeking Legal Assistance:
- When and why to consider an elder law attorney or a lawyer specializing in financial fraud.
-
Addressing the "Known Perpetrator" Issue:
- A sensitive but crucial section explaining that perpetrators are often family members, caregivers, or other known individuals.
- How to navigate this emotionally difficult situation while still protecting the elder.
-
Securing Access (Preventative & Ongoing):
- Physical mail security (e.g., locked mailbox, P.O. Box, USPS Informed Delivery).
- Digital security (e.g., strong, unique passwords, two-factor authentication, checking for malware on devices, reviewing online account access).
- Reviewing any Powers of Attorney or joint account access.
Why it's likely to be popular/shareable: This directly addresses a crisis situation with actionable steps. Many people feel helpless and don't know where to start. A clear guide is invaluable. The emotional component of the "known perpetrator" also resonates as it's a common, yet painful, reality.
Target Audience:
- Adult children and grandchildren of elderly individuals.
- Caregivers (both professional and informal family caregivers).
- Social workers, healthcare professionals, and community workers who interact with seniors.
- Friends and neighbors of elderly individuals who may notice red flags.
Origin Reddit Post
r/personalfinance
Someone is stealing my grandma’s money across different banks
Posted by u/Chronicallypink•06/04/2025
Someone is stealing my 88 year old great grandmothers money from her bank accounts, and spending money on multiple of her credit cards. It’s been going on for months, she’s gotten new cards,
Top Comments
u/URPissingMeOff
What's the relationship? Do they have physical access to her house, mailbox, or personal papers? It doesn't take much for fraud to happen.
My mother paid her bills by check and had one of t
u/Swiggy1957
She should also get a locked mailbox. Preferably a post office box. This will prevent people from accessing her mail.
u/RandomPersonBob
Lock down her credit with all 3 bureaus.
Change her bank to a completely new one, have any credit card companies send her new cards and make sure they turn off that feature where they update
u/Chronicallypink
she called the police and they told her because the bank reimbursed her they can’t do anything 🫠same police department that told me a few a years back that using someone’s credit card without
u/ApproachingLavender
Listen to https://www.thisamericanlife.org/587/transcript
It’s almost certainly someone she knows with physical access.
u/Birdy_Cephon_Altera
> Given some of this happened in town, it's likely someone you know who has access.
It is estimated that between 50% and 70% of fraud cases are "friendly fraud", which is done by someone
u/SoraUsagi
If it happened across multiple States, it can become a federal issue. If the police department honestly said that I'd file I report against them too
u/Critical-Test-4446
Maybe call your county sheriff's office or the State Police and ask if they have a financial crimes unit. Your local PD sounds like Barney Fife works there.
u/Chronicallypink
but i’m pretty sure i know who it is I just don’t know how to figure it out for sure or what to do with the suspicion
u/bananajr6000
Also change answers to security questions to something nonsensical that no one would know. Mother’s maiden name? 29bananas
Someone who knows her may have the right info
u/RandomPersonBob
Start throwing around the term elder abuse and see if that gets someone's attention.
u/bananajr6000
Also change answers to security questions to something nonsensical that no one would know. Mother’s maiden name? 29bananas
Someone who knows her may have the right info
u/squaretie
Does she have someone that takes care of her? Cuz that's a person of interest.
u/QuietBudxo
You need to involve adult protective services and financial elder abuse attorney ASAP!! This isnt just theft its exploitation. Freeze her credit, set up fraud alerts and if possible, help her
u/SHHLocation
As an FYI she can sign up for usps's informed delivery and give you access so you can see her mail when it's supposed to be delivered.
If someone is taking her mail at minimum you can sear
u/PoSlowYaGetMo
Someone she knows took a photograph of her social security and I.D. And is posing as her. It’s someone she knows.
u/Critical-Test-4446
Maybe call your county sheriff's office or the State Police and ask if they have a financial crimes unit. Your local PD sounds like Barney Fife works there.
u/Chronicallypink
They came to her house because all this was reported by the bank but they haven’t done anything. I’m out in Maryland but I just graduated law school so I’m going to reach out to some of my co
u/Chronicallypink
no the woman is spry as hell she still drives 😭
u/Chronicallypink
Thank you so much! Totally get that about the online banking l- she’s just anti because she’s almost 90 LOL. I will try to help her with it and see what I can find out.
u/Chronicallypink
she called the police and they told her because the bank reimbursed her they can’t do anything 🫠same police department that told me a few a years back that using someone’s credit card without
u/dastardly740
Adult protective services if the county/state has it might be interested in elder abuse and getting the right law enforcement involved.
u/mrtruthiness
> It's often somebody who previously had permission to use the card, making it a civil issue, not criminal.
Unauthorized use is still a criminal issue.
u/Chronicallypink
thank you!
u/Chronicallypink
They came to her house because all this was reported by the bank but they haven’t done anything. I’m out in Maryland but I just graduated law school so I’m going to reach out to some of my co
u/dastardly740
Adult protective services if the county/state has it might be interested in elder abuse and getting the right law enforcement involved.
u/squaretie
Does she have someone that takes care of her? Cuz that's a person of interest.
u/URPissingMeOff
What's the relationship? Do they have physical access to her house, mailbox, or personal papers? It doesn't take much for fraud to happen.
My mother paid her bills by check and had one of t
u/korepeterson
Check the wiki
[https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/identity\_theft/](https://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/wiki/identity_theft/)
u/PoSlowYaGetMo
Someone she knows took a photograph of her social security and I.D. And is posing as her. It’s someone she knows.
u/QuietBudxo
You need to involve adult protective services and financial elder abuse attorney ASAP!! This isnt just theft its exploitation. Freeze her credit, set up fraud alerts and if possible, help her
u/Joy2b
Can you point a camera at her mailbox, and/or replace the mailbox with a privacy lock?
This is an exception, but you may want to consider a cloud camera company for her. Just make sure yo
u/lunatikdeity
See if the bank can have the card printed at a local branch or mailed to the branch. Also most banks have it so you can lock the card when you’re not using it. Takes a couple minutes to sign
u/nosecohn
By your description, this doesn't sound like a hack or identity theft, but rather someone with consistent physical access.
Who has a key to her home or is over there frequently enough to sno
u/nozzery
Check computer/phone for malware. Reinstall OS from scratch. Change all passwords. Set up 2FA everywhere. Use a login app like Google Authenticator vs SMS, wherever you can. Change password t
u/StraightsJacket
Cancel all cards.
Change banks.
File police report.
u/Chronicallypink
no the woman is spry as hell she still drives 😭
u/Chronicallypink
thank you!
u/YOUR_BOOBIES_PM_ME
This is exactly why police might say it's a moral issue rather than a legal issue. It's often somebody who previously had permission to use the card, making it a civil issue, not criminal.
u/RandomPersonBob
Lock down her credit with all 3 bureaus.
Change her bank to a completely new one, have any credit card companies send her new cards and make sure they turn off that feature where they update
u/nosecohn
By your description, this doesn't sound like a hack or identity theft, but rather someone with consistent physical access.
Who has a key to her home or is over there frequently enough to sno
u/Swiggy1957
She should also get a locked mailbox. Preferably a post office box. This will prevent people from accessing her mail.
u/ApproachingLavender
Listen to https://www.thisamericanlife.org/587/transcript
It’s almost certainly someone she knows with physical access.
u/Chronicallypink
Thank you so much! Totally get that about the online banking l- she’s just anti because she’s almost 90 LOL. I will try to help her with it and see what I can find out.
u/Joy2b
Can you point a camera at her mailbox, and/or replace the mailbox with a privacy lock?
This is an exception, but you may want to consider a cloud camera company for her. Just make sure yo
u/RandomPersonBob
Start throwing around the term elder abuse and see if that gets someone's attention.
u/nozzery
Check computer/phone for malware. Reinstall OS from scratch. Change all passwords. Set up 2FA everywhere. Use a login app like Google Authenticator vs SMS, wherever you can. Change password t
u/Chronicallypink
but i’m pretty sure i know who it is I just don’t know how to figure it out for sure or what to do with the suspicion
u/StraightsJacket
Cancel all cards.
Change banks.
File police report.
u/Throwawaymoneytalk19
Can your grandma afford a lawyer?