ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Multiple Victims Of Elder Fraud
Elderly Victims Exploited
Remedies For Financial Elder Abuse
Seniors are often targets of all manner of financial fraud schemes, from those perpetuated by individuals close to the senior like in-home caregivers or business targeting seniors with unsuitable life insurance or annuity sales to anonymous internet fraudsters running various scams. Whatever the timing or form of financial elder abuse and whatever the amounts, any taking of a senior’s property, or any assistance in that taking is a crime and grounds for civil liability of the person doing the taking and anyone assisting him or her. California Penal Code § 368 and Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15610.30 (definition of financial elder abuse). California broadly defines what constitutes financial elder or dependent adult 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 in Santa Clara County or elsewhere in the South Bay or Northern California call us today at (415)441-8669. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Elder Fraud Casse
In one reported case, [1] California authorities arrested several suspects in conjunction with a retail theft and fraud ring targeting the elderly and others in their more than $1 million scam, according to a press release issued this week by Santa Clara County. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office High Impact Team dismantled the organized retail theft and fraud enterprise responsible for trafficking in millions of dollars’ worth of stolen goods — and exploiting elderly victims across the country to do it. The investigation began in June 2025, when detectives started tracking retail thefts. They uncovered a highly sophisticated criminal network operating across the Bay Area and beyond. The suspects allegedly acquired the merchandise through a widespread gift card scam. Three of the suspects operated online marketplaces, shipping products to buyers across the country.
“This case is one of the most significant takedowns of organized retail crime we’ve seen in Santa Clara County,” said Sheriff Robert Jonsen. “It shows what’s possible when skilled investigators, strong partnerships, and targeted resources come together to protect our communities.” On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, search warrants were executed at homes, storage units, and a warehouse in San Jose and Campbell. The locations were allegedly used as storage, drop-off, and distribution centers for the stolen merchandise. Investigators recovered more than a dozen box truckloads of The Home Depot merchandise at one location. The estimated value of the fraudulently obtained items exceeds $1 million, though a full inventory is ongoing, authorities said. Retail theft wasn’t the only crime being committed, according to investigators. Detectives uncovered a nationwide fraud scheme targeting hundreds of victims – many elderly – through online and phone scams. Victims were coerced into purchasing high-value gift cards, often from The Home Depot and Lowe’s, and providing the card information to scammers. The gift cards were then used by suspects to purchase thousands of dollars in merchandise daily.
Suspects were booked on charges of organized retail theft, financial elder abuse, theft by false pretenses, possession of stolen property, and conspiracy.
Protecting Seniors From Financial Abuse
Caution your older loved ones and friends against gift card scams or any scams asking for any confidential information or account or card numbers. If they have in-home caregivers or other workers, be extra careful about the situation. Keep cash, checks and cards out of strangers’ reach. But don’t stop there in protecting your older loved one as online or phone access to accounts can also be a method for getting money. Regularly monitor all of a senior’s accounts; view account activity online every day if you can. Start your due diligence sooner too. 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, ATM card, 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 kind of abuse of an older loved one in Santa Clara County or anywhere else in the South Bay or Northern California, 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.
