ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Former Caregiver Sentenced For Years Of Forged Checks
92-Year-Old Victim Lived In Care Facility
Forged Checks Totaled Over $93,000
Elder and dependent adult financial abuse cases involve vulnerable individuals who are often victimized by the very people they trust to assist them with daily living. The vulnerability of these victims makes this type of fraud a vastly underreported crime. Victims are either unaware they are being defrauded or unwilling to turn in a person on whom they depend for independent living. Sometimes the perpetrators actually threaten the victims. Typical financial elder abuse crimes include forged checks, unauthorized use of credit cards, embezzlement (e.g. using the victim’s money to pay expenses of the perpetrator without their knowledge and/or consent), and theft by false pretenses (e.g. obtaining a victim’s signature on legal documents without the victim truly understanding the consequences of the subject transaction); often times this includes tapping into the victim’s home equity by way of refinancing a home loan, obtaining a home-equity line of credit or a reverse mortgage. If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse by a caregiver or other person in Santa Clara County or elsewhere in California, call us today at (415)441-8669. We will pursue all persons responsible for a senior’s injury. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Former Caregiver Sentenced For Stealing More Than $93,000 From 92-Year-Old
In one recently reported case,[1] a caregiver has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $93,000 from a 92-year-old woman living in a senior care facility. The FBI stated that the caregiver stole the 92-year-old woman’s checkbook and for over 17 months forged checks off the account to pay her own bills and to get cash. The FBI conducted a forensic accounting of the elderly woman’s financial records leading to the caregiver’s arrest. The subject made the excuse that the victim had given her the money but when presented with the evidence she confessed to stealing the money. The former caregiver was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $93,000 in restitution.
How Families Can Protect Seniors From Financial Elder Abuse
As the FBI stated in announcing the sentencing, “It is important for the family members as well as other trusted individuals in these elderly individuals’ lives to take a proactive role in reviewing their financial records in order to make sure that there are not any fraudulent transactions.” Any senior, like the victim in the reported case, is vulnerable to theft when strangers are working in his or her home as caregivers or doing any other kind of work. If your older loved one has in-home assistance of any kind make sure their credit and debit cards, jewelry, cash and other valuables are in a safe place away from reach. If a senior has any cards that they never use, destroy them and alert the relevant bank or credit card company that the card is discontinued. Never give a caregiver a credit card or ATM card to shop or get cash for a senior. Keep financial information, bank account numbers and Social Security numbers away from a caregiver’s or other stranger’s glance. Never, ever grant a power of attorney to a caregiver. Visit your older loved one as regularly as you can to see firsthand how they are doing. Accompany older loved ones whenever they go shopping or go to the bank or have any sort of meeting about financial matters. Most important of all, if you suspect anything wrong, do something about it right away.
Contact Us
Ingrid M. Evans represents elder and dependent adults in Santa Clara County or elsewhere in California who are victims of any kind of financial exploitation or other abuse. Ingrid can be reached at (415) 441-8669 or TOLL FREE 1-888-80EVANS (888-503-8267), or email us at <a href=”mailto:info@evanslaw.com”>info@evanslaw.com</a>.
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the reported case in any way.
