Elder Abuse, Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and may have the most substantial impact on the lives of older adults. Multiple forms of mistreatment often are coupled together to further a bad actor’s cause. Financial exploitation may result in neglect and serious health decline as resources are depleted, and/or physical or psychological abuse when victims are threatened.
Unfortunately, Pittsford FCU members are not immune to fraud attempts. Hopefully, by sharing the basics of a situation that happened to one of our own members, we can help other members avoid a similar situation in the future. If you’re not elderly, you may still have parents or other relatives that could fall prey to a scammer. Be aware that fraud is real, and the losses can be devastating – emotionally, as well as financially.
A real Story…
Recently, a member visited our Pittsford branch and requested that Pittsford FCU wire (send electronically) more than $50,000 to someone in Florida, supposedly a representative of a hospital, where the member’s sister had supposedly just been admitted for a serious health issue. Never in Pittsford FCU’s history has any hospital required payment by wire, especially not as prepayment to provide care. Pittsford FCU refused to proceed with the transaction, despite the member’s strong protestations, because we believed the request was fraudulent. The criminal had the Pittsford FCU member so fraught, so stressed, that clear thinking was impossible.
Without Pittsford FCU completing the transaction, the member visited our Mendon branch, hoping for a different result. We were able to pick up on the likely fraudulent story again and refused to send the money. The criminal then had the member try again the next day, this time for a different amount and for a different purpose (but, interestingly, with the money going to the same person that was helping with the supposed hospital stay, but this time to “help a friend buy a car”). And the story continued from there. Pittsford FCU again refused, again causing momentary frustration for the member. Fortunately, the member ultimately consulted a trusted family member (something the fraudster specifically forbade), and finally accepted the situation was a scam. With our help, the member never gave any money to the criminal.
Situations like this are no longer rare nor isolated. Please share this story with those about whom you care most. It’s good to know such schemes exist, are common, and that it is absolutely fine to simply hang up the phone when something seems odd. Once engaged, a fraudster is very difficult to shake, especially for the person they’ve dragged into their web of deceit. In some situations, criminals “take control” of a victim’s phone for days, preventing any contact with those who could help.
Possible signs of Abuse:
- Sudden isolation from family or friends
- Changes in finances
- Inability to pay bills
- Questionable actions by a power of attorney
- Transfer of property
- Confusion over care or finances
- Unusual or unexplained injuries
- Increased fear or withdrawal
Ways to Verify a Phone Claim
If you ever receive a similar call, ask for the location where your family member is but do not provide them with ANY information over the phone. Hang up and call the family member – using a number you have in your own records – that they claim is in the hospital (or jail or wherever). If the family member answers, they can verify whether or not they are actually in crisis. If you are unable to reach them, call the hospital (or other location) using a published phone number to verify if they have someone there with that name.
Resources Are Available
If you need additional help with similar situations or concerns, Lifespan is a nonprofit organization providing information, guidance, and more than 30 different services for older adults and caregivers. Please contact Lifespan at (585) 244-8400 for questions or concerns about abuse of older adults, case consultations or referrals, scheduling a presentation, or financial management services. You can also find additional information about all of Lifespan’s many other services and educational programs on Lifespan’s website at lifespan-roch. org. Additionally, the Upstate Elder Abuse Center at Lifespan provides resources and a network of professionals who work to bring about positive outcomes to help protect victims of elder mistreatment through intervention, education, and services.
Elder Abuse Helpline for Concerned Persons
People who may suspect an older adult is being mistreated may not know what to do or where to turn for help. There is now a free, confidential program to provide guidance and support for concerned family, friends, or neighbors. The Helpline provides the person witnessing the abuse with assistance. It is not a referral line to report abuse. The person calling can live anywhere in the world, but the older adult must live in New York State. Simply call (844) 746-6905 to connect with this confidential, non-emergency program. You will be asked some general questions and then referred to the appropriate Helpline staff based on where the older adult lives. Lifespan staff cover all upstate counties. Please visit lifespan-roch.org/HelpLineForConcernedPersons for more details about this unique Helpline.
