Protecting Older Adults From Financial Exploitation

Financial exploitation costs older Americans billions of dollars nationally. Financial exploitation takes a variety of different forms, including abuse by an authorized agent under a financial power of attorney, abuse by a guardian established under a court-ordered guardianship, fraudulent conveyance of real estate, fraud by home contractors, unauthorized used of credit cards and bank accounts, pressured sales techniques, scams, and exploitative telemarketing and collections practices.

Common signs of elder abuse include isolation, weight loss, bruises or broken bones, confusion, unusual spending activity, and transferring assets to another.

If you suspect that a loved one may be a victim of financial abuse, report such abuse to the Elder Abuse Hotline, available to all Pennsylvania residents, at 1-800-490-8505. You may choose to remain anonymous.