At Home

• Lock your doors and windows
• If someone is at the door, see who it is before opening the door. Ask strangers to give their name and show you I.D.
• Be very careful whom you let in your home. Never allow a stranger in your home, even if they appear to be in distress or with a young child.
• Never agree to have work done on your home without getting at least three written estimates from reputable contractors whose identity and address have been checked.
• Never leave mail in your mailbox for the mail carrier to collect.
• Make a list of expensive items (jewelry, etc.). Take a picture of these items and store the details in a safe place.
• When walking to and from a store, always be aware of who is around you. Do not leave a purse or handbag trailing from your arm or shoulder.

Finances

• Don't keep large amounts of cash on hand.
• Don't take money from your bank account just because someone tells you to.
• Never give out personal details such as your bank account number, Social Security number or credit card number to any person over the telephone
• Check your bank statement carefully each month. If you have a trusted adult child, consider asking your bank to send a duplicate copy of the statement to that child so that another pair of eyes can check that there is no suspicious activity on your account.
• Buy a shredder and shred all unused credit card applications.
• Ask your bank to call you if any check over a certain amount is ever presented to that branch for payment.
• Beware of family members persuading you to sign deeds or assets over to them.
• Keep your checkbook and spare checks in a safe place.

Scams

• If someone calls you, (e.g., a telemarketer), don't be afraid to hang up on them.
• Stay away from deals that sound “too good to be true”.
• Beware of deals that ask for a lot of money up front and promise sure success.
• Don't be taken in by miracle cures for health problems.
• Do not agree to send money at the request of a telephone solicitor.

• Here are some examples of common scams:

  • BOGUS CHARITIES - The senior is approached either at the door or by telephone with a request to donate to a legitimate sounding charity. Be very wary of such calls. Many so-called charities are bogus and the money is diverted directly into the pockets of the crooks.

  • HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS - The senior is approached normally by at least two individuals posing as contractors. The unsuspecting victim is persuaded that a roof, driveway or home needs repairs. The strangers pretend to carry out the work, which is in fact, shoddy and almost worthless.

  • THEFTS FROM WITHIN THE HOME - The senior is approached at the door by at least two individuals who use a ruse to enter the senior's home. Such ruses are a request to use the telephone or to get a glass of water. Once inside, one of the individuals will keep the senior occupied while the other individual rummages through the senior's personal belongings and steals cash and jewelry.

  • BANK INVESTIGATOR SCHEME - The senior is contacted outside their bank or by telephone by a stranger who identifies himself as a member of law enforcement. The stranger asks for the senior's help in catching a dishonest bank employee. The senior is persuaded to go inside the bank to a particular teller window and withdraw a large sum of cash and then meet the “official” outside. Once the senior hands over the cash, the stranger disappears with the money.

  • SWEEPSTAKES SCAM - The senior receives a call either from Canada or from another part of the USA. The caller explains that the senior has won a substantial prize, but to collect that price, the senior must first send a money order for up to $4,000 by express mail.

Elder Financial Abuse

Financial or material exploitation is defined as the illegal or improper use of an elder/dependent adult's funds, property, or assets. Examples include:

• Cashing an elder/dependent adult's checks without authorization/permission
• Forging an elder/dependent adult's signature
• Misusing or stealing an elder/dependent adult's money or possessions
• Coercing or deceiving an elder/dependent adult into signing any document (e.g., contracts or will)
• Misusing conservatorship, guardianship, or power of attorney.

Signs and symptoms of financial or material exploitation include (but are not limited to):

• Sudden changes in bank account or banking practice, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the elder/dependent adult
• The inclusion of additional names on an elder/dependent adult's bank signature card
• Unauthorized withdrawal of the elder/dependent adult's funds using their ATM card
• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents
• Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions
• Substandard care being provided or bills unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources
• Discovery of an elder/dependent adult's signature being forged for financial transactions or for the titles of his/her possessions
• Sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an elder/dependent adult's affairs and possessions
• Unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family
• The provision of services that are not necessary
• An elder/dependent adult's report of financial exploitation