Coinciding with Elder Abuse Awareness Day – on June 15 – the Consumer Protection Section of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office is increasing their awareness efforts, educating Ohioans about the signs of financial abuse directed at senior citizens.
Financial abuse can be difficult to stop for many reasons. Victims may:
- Be reluctant to address the abuse due to their relationship to the abuser (who may be a friend or family member).
- Fear retaliation or shame.
- Depend on the abuser for assistance.
- Have health-related reasons (physical or emotional) or economic reasons for not reporting the abuse.
The financial abuse is commonly committed by:
- Family members, friends, neighbors or acquaintances.
- Professionals (such as attorneys, doctors, financial advisers, clergy members, caregivers or guardians).
Strangers (such as telemarketers, door-to-door salespeople, romance scammers or fake media personalities).
Indicators of financial abuse include:
- Fraudulent signatures on financial documents.
- Unpaid bills.
- Sudden changes in spending habits, wills or other financial documents.
To help prevent financial abuse, older adults are encouraged to:
- Plan ahead for legal, medical and estate matters.
- Seek independent advice from someone you trust before signing any documents. If you don’t understand a financial transaction or think you’re being pressured to give money and/or sign a document, ask for help.
- Avoid sharing personal information with people you do not know well.
- Make sure that proper screening and background checks are completed before hiring someone to provide services.
The attorney general’s Consumer Protection Section encourages all older adults to
ALWAYS:
- Be skeptical when someone requests immediate payment via wire transfer, prepaid money card, gift card, cryptocurrency or a peer-to-peer payment network.
- Research businesses and charities through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and theBetter Business Bureau.
- Beware of strangers who seek new, quick personal connections with you or a loved one.
- Get all verbal promises in writing and review all contracts.
- Keep your personal information private and shred outdated documents containing such information.
NEVER:
- Send money to a stranger via wire transfer, gift card or prepaid credit card.
- Give personal information to someone who has contacted you unexpectedly.
- Carry unnecessary personal information, such as your Social Security card, in your wallet or purse.
- Pay to win a prize or sweepstakes.
- Give anyone “remote access” to your computer.
- Pay the full amount before any work has been done.
- Sign documents you don’t understand.
Consumers who suspect a scam or an unfair business practice should contact the Attorney General's Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.