The elderly are people who have spent their entire lives contributing to society and helping set up future generations for a happy, enjoyable existence. It is a sad fact, however, that many people take advantage of the elderly through financial exploitation. In other cases, elderly people with mental or physical limitations will be exploited by their family members, for the perpetrator’s own personal gain.
In whatever kind of situation it occurs, financial exploitation of elderly people is unethical, and in many cases highly illegal. Elder financial abuse by family or other people should be addressed immediately. If you are a close friend or family member of an elderly person whom you think is being exploited, here are a few important steps to take when considering how to protect that person from financial abuse.
Organize Your Suspicions
Undoubtedly, there are a few reasons you are suspicious that an elderly person close to you is being exploited; maybe an estranged relative has all of a sudden started coming around again, or perhaps the victim has been complaining about money when you know they should have plenty to live on.
No matter what the nature of your suspicions are, organize and document them by writing them down. If possible, include the date that you noticed the clue and exactly what made you suspicious. These records will prove to be valuable if you need to go to court and present evidence in front of a judge.
Collect as Much Evidence as You Can
It is important to remember that you should only be collecting evidence that you can come across or have access to. For example, if you have a shared bank account with the person whom you think is a victim of elder financial abuse by family members, you may decide to collect bank statements or transaction records. Never try to engage in an investigation or legally confront someone; instead, let a professional handle these tasks.
Consult With a Skilled Elderly Abuse Investigator
Those who professionally investigate these types of cases can provide very valuable services for someone who is suspicious about financial exploitation of elderly people in their lives. Try to do your research and look for a financial exploitation investigator that has done work on similar cases in the past. Get in touch with friends and relatives who might know about an investigator you can hire for this work.
Once you retain the help of an investigative professional, explain what the situation is and show them as many of the clues as possible regarding the scenario. They will be able to use their insights and investigative prowess to provide you with more information than you could find on your own about whether or not exploitation is taking place and what the best way to handle it is.
Financial exploitation of elderly people is a terrible crime committed by highly unethical people, but it does not have to go unaddressed. By hiring a financial crimes investigator who knows what they are doing, you can protect elderly people in your life from abuse and make sure they are not taken advantage of.
Veriti Consulting LLC provides elder financial abuse support to individuals and legal teams across the United States. In addition, Veriti is a licensed private investigation agency. To learn more about the types of elder financial abuse services we offer call Veriti Consulting at 855.232.4410 today.
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