You're usually the one who visits most, who picks up the phone first, who notices when something's different. Maybe it's a bank statement with a withdrawal nobody remembers making. Maybe it's a new "friend" who showed up a few months ago and now seems to be around for every conversation about money. Financial exploitation of an older adult rarely announces itself. It usually shows up first as a small thing that doesn't quite add up, and the family caregiver is almost always the one who sees it.
This walks through what actually counts as exploitation, how to write down what you noticed so it holds up, and exactly who to call first, in what order, so a hunch turns into something Adult Protective Services or a bank can act on.
Decision
What's making you uneasy right now?
Pick the one closest to what you're seeing.
What Counts as Financial Exploitation
Financial exploitation covers more than an obvious scam call. It includes a caregiver or acquaintance using someone's money or property without permission, pressuring them into signing a document they don't fully understand, or isolating them from family so no one else notices what's happening with their accounts. It can come from a stranger, but it's just as often someone the person trusts, a hired aide, a new friend, or occasionally another family member.
None of these signs proves exploitation by itself. Together, or appearing suddenly, they're worth taking seriously enough to look closer.
If a power of attorney is part of what you're seeing, What a Power of Attorney Actually Covers explains what the document should and shouldn't allow someone else to do.
Document What You Saw, Then Report It
Before you call anyone, write down what you actually saw: the date, the dollar amount, the exact wording on a form, the name of the new person involved. Adult Protective Services and a bank's fraud department both work from specifics, not a general sense that something's wrong. A short, dated account of what you noticed is more useful than a long explanation of why it worries you.
Report it in two separate places, because neither one automatically tells the other. Adult Protective Services (APS) is the state agency that investigates suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older or vulnerable adult. The bank or financial institution has its own fraud or elder-exploitation team that can flag an account, freeze a pending transfer, or file its own report. Filing with one doesn't put the other on notice.
Give family one clear update instead of scattered texts.
Write my updateClose tool
Turn scattered updates into one clear weekly message your family can actually use.
Checklist
Pull these together first
Specifics are what make a report actionable.
0 of 3 done.
Checklist
Common warning signs
Check off anything that matches what you've noticed.
0 of 5 done.
Timeline
Work it in this order
Check off each step as you complete it.
List every date, dollar amount, and person involved while it's still fresh.
Call 1-800-677-1116 to reach the Eldercare Locator and be connected to your local APS office.
Ask for the fraud or elder-financial-exploitation team directly.
Especially if a power of attorney, will, or beneficiary form changed recently.
Save what you documented and who you contacted so you have a record if the situation continues.
Who to Call, in What Order
If the person is in immediate danger, call 911 first. Otherwise, start with the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. It connects you to your state's Adult Protective Services office, which is the agency responsible for investigating exploitation and can involve law enforcement if the facts support it.
Call the bank, brokerage, or credit union next, and ask specifically for the fraud or elder-financial-exploitation department rather than general customer service. If a power of attorney, will, or other legal document changed recently, add an elder law attorney to the list. They can tell you whether a document was executed properly or whether it's worth challenging.
If you're also managing the person's broader care, not just this one concern, Build Your Family's Long-Term Care Coordination Plan covers how to keep the rest of the family on the same page going forward.
Common questions
What counts as financial exploitation of an older adult?
It includes a caregiver, acquaintance, or family member using someone's money or property without permission, pressuring them into signing a document they don't fully understand, or isolating them from family so changes to their accounts go unnoticed. It can come from a stranger, but it's often someone the person already trusts.
Who do I call if I suspect financial exploitation of a family member?
If there's immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116, which connects you to your state's Adult Protective Services office. Separately, contact the bank or financial institution's fraud or elder-exploitation department, since a report to one doesn't automatically notify the other.
What should I document before reporting suspected exploitation?
Write down the date, the dollar amount, the exact wording on any document, and the name of anyone newly involved in the person's finances. Adult Protective Services and a bank's fraud team both work from specifics, so a short, dated account is more useful than a general description of your concern.
What are common warning signs of elder financial exploitation?
A sudden new "friend" or caregiver who becomes central to the person's life, missing cash or valuables, unpaid bills despite available money, signatures that look different from usual, a recently changed will or power of attorney, or new credit cards and accounts the person can't explain.
