Fraud & Scams
Fraud occurs when someone tricks an elder into handing over assets such as money or investments. Watch out for many different schemes and scams. Remember, fraudsters vary their scams to catch their victims off guard. Financial elder abuse is most often perpetrated by someone an elder knows such as a caregiver, friend,or sadly, a relative. It involves taking assets by directly taking control of an elder's finances or becoming close with an elder and convincing them to hand over their assets. Things to watch for include: making unauthorized (or fraudulently obtained) withdrawals or purchases using the elder's ATM or credit card, or making unauthorized (or fraudulently obtained) changes to an elder's will or power of attorney. Fraud and Financial AbuseVisit this page for information on financial abuse, including investment fraud, theft of property or personal information, and ways to prevent and report abuse. Avoiding ScamsReview some information about common senior scams and how to avoid them. Veterans' InformationLearn more about the programs, benefits and services available to California veterans and their families. Other Financial ResourcesFind general information on such issues as investment and reverse mortgages. |