ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Caregiver Allegedly Stole $500,000 From Elderly Victim
Police Allege Money Used to Purchase Multiple Cars And Other Lavish Purchases
Protecting Older Loved Ones
According to FBI and National Institute of Justice statistics, as many as one in 10 seniors are victims of financial elder abuse. Their financial predators are most often caregivers or other persons in close proximity to their victims. Caregiver fraud/caregiver theft ranges from theft of cash, credit cards and checks to elaborate schemes aimed at taking an elderly victim’s entire estate. Unauthorized online access to an elderly person’s financial accounts is a frequent means of this type of financial elder abuse. While theft from any person is a crime, when the victim is over 65 any theft is also criminal financial elder abuse and grounds for civil liability against the person who took the property. Anyone assisting in financial elder abuse, even if another person is the one who physically takes the elder’s property, also commits financial elder abuse and is responsible for the property taken. Penal Code § 368; Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15610.30(a)(1) and (2). California broadly defines what constitutes financial elder abuse:
(a) “Financial abuse” of an elder or dependent adult occurs when a person or entity does any of the following:
(1) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(2) Assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult for a wrongful use or with intent to defraud, or both.
(3) Takes, secretes, appropriates, obtains, or retains, or assists in taking, secreting, appropriating, obtaining, or retaining, real or personal property of an elder or dependent adult by undue influence, as defined in Section 15610.70.
If you or a loved one is a victim of elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect or caregiver fraud/caregiver theft in the San Francisco Bay Area call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Recent Arrest In Caregiver Fraud/Caregiver Theft Case[1]
A woman has been arrested after police say she stole nearly half a million dollars from an elderly person she was entrusted to care for. The local Police Department said the woman has been charged with stealing $500,000 from the elderly person she was taking care of. According to court records, Detectives launched an investigation earlier this year after receiving reports of possible financial fraud. According to investigators, bank records showed the woman allegedly siphoned funds from the victim over the course of several years. Police said the stolen money was used to purchase multiple cars and make lavish personal purchases. Charges are pending,
Protecting Older Loved Ones From Caregiver Fraud/Caregiver Theft
If your older loved one has in-home help, keep confidential financial information out of reach for any caregiver in your older loved one’s home. Never let a caregiver know Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, PINs or any other confidential financial information of any kind. Regularly monitor all a senior’s accounts – not just the household checking account. Track where any Social Security or retirement benefits are being deposited every month. Start your due diligence even before you get to the account monitoring stage. Always do a background check on anyone you hire as a caregiver; get references and call them. Never, ever give a caregiver a Power of Attorney, credit card, or a blank check. Stay involved in any senior loved one’s life so a stranger does not have the opportunity for this kind of theft and exploitation.
Contact Us
If you sense any financial elder abuse of an older loved one in the San Francisco Bay Area, call us right away. Ingrid M. Evans has years of experience in representing seniors and their families against abusers of any kind, including in-home caregivers. You can reach us at (415) 441-8669, or by email at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
