ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Allegedly Stole Over Ten-Year Period
Defendant Developed Close Relationship With Victim
Hundreds Of Fraudulent Checks And Electronic Transfers Alleged
Trustees, conservators, brokers, accountants, and other advisors have direct access to a senior’s finances and personal information like Social Security Numbers. Dishonest persons in those capacities are in a position to steal funds, and if the senior is suffering from cognitive impairment or physically unable to monitor their affairs, the theft may go undetected for long periods of time. Evans Law Firm, Inc. represents victims of financial elder abuse, and the families of deceased victims, in Alameda County and in San Francisco and throughout California. We pursue all remedies available to the injured senior or his or her family including double damages and payment of attorneys’ fees and costs for having to bring suit to get their money back. Cal. Probate Code § 859 (double damages); Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.5 (mandatory attorneys’ fees and expenses in financial elder abuse cases). If you or a loved one is a victim of financial elder abuse in Alameda County, San Francisco or elsewhere in California, call our lawyers today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Accounting Manager Charged With Stealing $800,00 From Elderly Client
A recent criminal case illustrates what can happen when a person in a position of authority uses prolonged access to a senior’s income sources and accounts to steal.[1] According to charges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), an accounting manager for an elderly woman with dementia stole approximately $800,000 from the woman over a period of ten years. The suspect worked at a wealth management firm as the accounting manager, bill-pay supervisor and accountant for her victim. According to the DOJ the suspect befriended her victim whom she told a co-worker was like a “grandmother” to her. Yet, according to the DOJ, the suspect betrayed this close relationship and for a period of ten years stole the victim’s annuity payments, wrote more than 200 fraudulent checks, withdrew cash from the woman’s bank accounts and made electronic payments to herself from the client’s accounts using PayPal. Defendant is also accused of impersonating the woman in phone conversations with financial institutions, and using the victim’s name and Social Security number to open a bank account to disguise the alleged fraud. The defendant has plead guilty to certain charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Protecting Loved Ones From Financial Elder Abuse
The accountant/bookkeeper in the reported case was able to get away with her alleged fraud because no one was reviewing the financial statements for her elderly client. If you are a family member of an older loved one the best way to protect them from the kind of fraud described in the reported case is to stay involved in their lives and financial affairs and constantly monitor all bank and investment accounts. Trace where any annuity, Social Security or pension benefits are being paid and make sure they are going to your loved one’s account and not being diverted elsewhere. Closely examine all bills that are being paid directly from any account to make sure they are your loved one’s bills and not the bills of someone else who has given the account information to their own creditors for bill payments. Accompany any older loved one to any business meetings so that they are not sold an unsuitable investment or insurance product or coaxed into signing blank forms or checks under the pressure of a broker or agent.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents victims of financial elder abuse by accountants, bookkeepers, financial advisors, insurance agents, brokers, retirement planners, investment promoters, caregivers, trustees, or other person in Alameda County, San Francisco or elsewhere in California contact at (415) 441-8669, or by email at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Ingrid will pursue all remedies available to injured seniors against all those responsible for the injury. Remedies include restitution (getting your money back), rescission (undoing invalid contracts), damages, and awards of attorneys’ fees and expenses for bringing your case in certain circumstances.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. is not involved in the case in any way.
