ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Authorities Arrest Caregiver Accused Of Financial Elder Abuse And Theft
Caregiver Allegedly Forced Senior To Approve Cash Withdrawal
Charges Of Theft, Forgery And Financial Exploitation
All seniors are potential victims of financial elder abuse, but some are more vulnerable than others. Especially vulnerable are h isolated seniors requiring in-home caregivers. Sadly, there are unscrupulous persons who take advantage of this intimate and 24/7 access to a senior’s life, to snoop into a senior’s finances and steal. Typically, the theft starts out in small amounts but can grow over time if the caregiver thinks he or she is getting away with it. The theft may begin with stealing a little cash or making one or two unauthorized purchases while shopping for what the senior needs. Once a caregiver senses they are getting away with the theft, they take larger and larger amounts and may resort to forging, intimidation, identity theft and more to take more and more from the senior. The abuse can be quick or can last over years and add up into the millions. The pandemic has expanded the isolation of the elderly and the risk of financial elder abuse has really spiked at this time. Stay involved in a senior’s life, look for signs of abuse (outlined below) and get help. If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse in Marin or anywhere in the Bay Area or throughout California, call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Caregiver Allegedly Stole To Buy Car And More
In one recently reported caregiver criminal prosecution,[1] a caregiver is accused of stealing more than $90,000 from her 67-year-old client, including selling the woman’s home, investigators say. According to case records, the caregiver was hired in July of last year and by November had stolen over $90,000 from the senior, who was also disabled and homebound. Authorities accuse the caregiver of taking control of the woman’s bank and retirement accounts after learning the woman has no family. Investigators say the caregiver got most of the money by forging the woman’s signature on bank withdrawal slips. The caregiver is also accused of facilitating the sale of the woman’s home. Investigators say the care provider convinced the woman that it was in her best interest but then kept a large portion of the proceeds. Investigators say the caregiver stole the money over a three-month period and used it to buy a Chevy Tahoe, among other things. Investigators also revealed that when the caregiver found out about the investigation, she forced her victim to sign a note saying she willingly gave her the money to buy the Tahoe.
Protecting Loved Ones And Neighbors From Theft And Financial Abuse
This case shows just how quickly an in-home caregiver can strike. Within just a few months, the caregiver had allegedly stolen $90,000. The best way to prevent this kind of sudden and extreme abuse is by staying involved in an isolated senior’s life whether you’re family, a good friend, or a neighbor. If you can’t make a personal visit still during the pandemic, call on the phone and make sure you speak directly with the older person and find out what is going on in his or her life. Don’t let a caregiver tell you your loved one or neighbor can’t come to the phone or believe them if they say the person is doing fine. Insist on speaking directly and privately with the senior. Be especially vigilant about watching financial matters for the senior. Monitor the senior’s credit cards online or close the cards altogether if they are not necessary; unauthorized use of credit cards is a very common form of financial elder abuse. Monitor all of a senior’s retirement, investment and bank accounts online. You also may want to redirect mail to your own address so any caregivers or other strangers in a senior’s home do not have access to mail. Also, make sure that financial information like account numbers and Social Security numbers are kept away from a caregiver’s glance. Never, ever grant a power of attorney to a caregiver. Perhaps most important of all, if you suspect anything wrong, do something about it right away.
Contact Us
If you suspect financial elder abuse of a loved one, friend or neighbor by a new “friend” of the senior, a second spouse, caregiver, or other person in Marin County, San Francisco, or elsewhere in California, call Ingrid M. Evans at Evans Law Firm, Inc. at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267). Ingrid will pursue all available remedies against those responsible for the financial elder abuse of the senior, including damages, rescission (undoing a fraudulent transaction), restitution (getting your money back), extra damages (to punish illegal behavior), and the award of attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing your action.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
