Our programs, especially those centering on financial wellness, monitor for fraud and exploitation. The difficult truth is that many older adults experience abuse, neglect, or exploitation—often from someone they know.
We want to focus on one of the most common forms of elder abuse—financial exploitation.
What is financial exploitation?
Financial exploitation happens when someone improperly or illegally uses an older adult’s money, property, or resources for personal gain.
- Pressuring someone to hand over money
- Misusing a debit card or bank account
- Convincing someone to change a will or beneficiary
- Taking advantage of memory loss or confusion
- Using fear, guilt, or isolation to control financial decisions
- Scamming someone through phone calls, email, or social media
Why is it hard to detect?
Because it’s not always strangers who are the culprits. In many cases, the person responsible is someone the older adult knows and trusts—a caregiver, family member, friend, neighbor, or romantic partner.
Financial exploitation can also happen slowly. A trusted neighbor starts helping with errands. A relative begins managing bills. A new friend asks for money.
Why older adults can be especially vulnerable
Many older adults live on a fixed income. Some may rely on others for rides, groceries, or help at home. Others may be grieving a spouse, living alone, or experiencing changes in memory.
That doesn’t mean older adults are incapable of making decisions. It means some situations can make a person easier to manipulate—especially by someone they trust.
Top 10 Warning Signs of Financial Exploitation in Older Adults
- Sudden or unexplained withdrawals from bank accounts
- Unpaid bills or utility shut-off notices despite steady income
- Confusion about money or documents they previously managed easily
- A new person becoming unusually involved in finances or decision-making
- Pressure to sign documents they don’t fully understand
- Missing cash, valuables, or personal belongings
- Changes to wills, deeds, beneficiaries, or legal documents that seem sudden or unusual
- Isolation from family or longtime friends, especially by someone new
- Repeated requests for gift cards, wire transfers, or emergency money
- Fear, anxiety, secrecy, or embarrassment when money comes up
What you can do if you’re concerned
If something feels off, trust your instincts. You don’t need proof before starting a conversation.
Try a gentle, non-accusatory approach.
Instead of saying: “You’re being scammed.”
Try: “I noticed you seem stressed about money lately. Is everything okay?”
- Watch for patterns instead of one isolated incident
- Review financial statements together (with permission)
- Encourage a trusted financial advisor or attorney to review concerns
- Contact a bank’s fraud department if suspicious activity appears
- To file a report of abuse or exploitation, contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400 or make a report online: https://www.txabusehotline.org/. Reports may be made anonymously.
