• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
  • Services
    • Asset & Business Planning
    • Dental Practice Law
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Medicaid and Elder Law
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law
      • Elder Law & Medicaid Definitions
      • Elder Law Reports
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Carmel, Indiana Elder Resources
        • Fishers Indiana Elder Law Resources
        • Greenfield, Indiana Elder Law Resources
        • Greenwood Elder Resources
        • Indianapolis Elder Law Resources
        • Lawrence Elder Law Resources
        • Plainfield Elder Resources
        • Zionsville Elder Law Resources
    • Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning Checkup
      • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
      • Estate Planning Definitions
      • Estate Planning Reports
        • Advanced Estate Planning
        • Basic Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning for Niches
        • Trust Administration
      • Incapacity Planning Definitions
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Top 10 Estate and Legacy Planning Techniques
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Abuse
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Planning for Long-Term Care
      • Estate Planning
        • Avoiding Estate Taxes
        • Estate Planning for Parents
        • Frequently Asked Questions for Families Without an Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Women and the Need for Estate Planning
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • Pet Planning
      • Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
      • Probate
      • Power of Attorney
      • Small Estate Administration
      • Trusts
        • Trust Administration
        • Trust Administration
        • Serving as Executor
      • Understanding Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
      • Wills
        • Contesting a Will
    • Newsletter
    • Pre Consultation Form
    • Probate and Trust Administration
      • Bereavement Resources
      • How to Know if You Need Extra Help With Your Grieving
      • Loss Of A Loved One
      • Probate Resources
        • Carmel, Indiana Probate Resources
        • Greenfield Probate
        • Greenwood Probate
        • Indianapolis Probate
        • Plainfield Probate
        • Indiana Probate
        • Zionsville Probate
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Trust
      • The Mourner’s Bill of Rights
      • Things You Need To Do When a Loved One Passes Away With a Will
      • Trust Administration & Probate Definitions
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Areas We Serve
    • Boone County
      • Lebanon
      • Zionsville
    • Hamilton County
      • Carmel
      • Fishers
    • Hancock County
      • Greenfield
    • Hendricks County
      • Brownsburg
      • Plainfield
    • Johnson County
      • Franklin, Indiana
      • Greenwood
    • Marion County
      • Central Indiana
      • Indianapolis
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law

Indianapolis Estate Planning Attorneys

CONNECT WITH US TODAY(317) 684-1100

Attend a Free Workshop
Home » What You Need to Know about Elder Financial Exploitation

What You Need to Know about Elder Financial Exploitation

September 22, 2022Elder Law

Indianapolis elder law attorneys

As the population of older Americans continues to increase dramatically. Unfortunately, that also means that elder abuse is also a growing problem. One type of elder abuse that is often underreported is elder financial exploitation. Predators take advantage of the fact that it is an uncomfortable topic of conversation. To help prevent you or a loved one from becoming a victim, the Indianapolis elder law attorneys at Frank & Kraft discuss what you need to know about financial exploitation.

What Is Elder Financial Exploitation?

Elder financial abuse, or exploitation, can be defined very broadly as the illegal or improper use of an older person’s money or property. This type of elder abuse takes numerous forms and can occur under a wide variety of scenarios, such as:

  • Family members taking advantage of an elder person’s diminished capacity to either cajole or outright steal money or assets.
  • A caregiver using an elder person’s money without permission or taking property from the individual’s home.
  • A family member or caregiver getting an elderly individual to sign documents under false pretenses that transfer assets to the perpetrator, either now or after the elderly person’s death.
  • Targeting an elderly individual for financial scams, over the telephone, through the mail, on the computer, or even in person.

Sadly, elder abuse, in all its forms, is not a new phenomenon in the United States. It is difficult to ascertain exactly how widespread or common elder abuse is, however, because victims frequently do not report the abuse because they are embarrassed and/or fear reprisals from the perpetrator. Nevertheless, experts estimate that one in 10 seniors will be the victim of some form of elder abuse amounting to over five million instances of financial exploitation of a senior each year. In addition, at least one in 20 older adults admit to some form of perceived financial mistreatment occurring in the recent past; however, only one in 44 cases of elder financial abuse is ever reported.

What Can I Do to Prevent Elder Financial Exploitation?

Whether you are a senior yourself or are worried about a loved one who is, the key to preventing elder financial exploitation is to acknowledge the threat and remain vigilant in your efforts to avoid becoming a victim. Educate yourself and/or your loved ones. One of the primary reasons why elder abuse, in general, is so grossly underreported is that victims are so often ashamed to have been victimized. Consequently, no one talks about the problem. Learn as much as you can about current scams and specific threats and discuss those threats with your friends and neighbors and/or with your elderly loved ones. Specific steps you can take to prevent becoming the victim of elder financial abuse include:

  • Keep social media private. Set all social media settings to private and check those settings regularly. Never post personal, identifying information on social media regardless of your settings. Don’t advertise when you plan to go on vacation over social media.
  • Monitor telephone calls. Never give out personal information to someone over the telephone. If the caller is legitimate, they won’t have a problem letting you hang up and call back using a number with which you are familiar.
  • Do not fall for IRS/Social Security scams. If you really owe the IRS money, or the Social Security Administration needs to talk to you, you will receive something in writing – and they will NEVER ask you to wire money or transfer money electronically.
  • Do your research. Thoroughly research any charities that ask you to make donations as well as companies you do business with over the internet.
  • Family does not get a pass. Don’t assume that you can trust someone just because they are family. Two-thirds of the perpetrators of elder financial abuse are family members.
  • Utilize your estate plan. Use your estate plan to make it clear now who you want to handle your finances if you reach a point where you can no longer handle them yourself. A power of attorney or voluntary guardianship can make this choice legally binding.

Contact Indianapolis Elder Law Attorneys

For more information, please download our FREE estate planning worksheet. If you have additional questions or concerns about elder financial exploitation, contact an experienced Indianapolis elder law attorney at Frank & Kraft by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Paul Kraft is Co-Founder and the senior Principal of Frank & Kraft, one of the leading law firms in Indiana in the area of estate planning as well as business and tax planning.

Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Paul A. Kraft, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • Updated Federal Gift and Estate Tax Figures for 2023 - January 26, 2023
  • Why Estate Planning Is Important for Multi-National Couples - January 24, 2023
  • When Do I Need to Update a Trust Agreement? - January 19, 2023

Other Articles You May Find Useful

caregiver
What You Need to Know If You Are a Caregiver
Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month
Indianapolis elder law attorneys
A Pre-Paid Funeral Plan Might Not Be a Wise Choice
Indianapolis elder law attorney
How to Find the Right Caregiver for a Parent
Indianapolis elder law attorneys
What Options Are Available for Elder Care?
Indianapolis elder law lawyers
How to Recognize Nursing Home Abuse

Primary Sidebar

Frank & Kraft, Attorneys at Law

Download our free Estate Planning Worksheet

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

Blog Subscription

Where We Are

Frank & Kraft Attorneys at Law
135 N. Pennsylvania Street Suite 1100
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2485
Phone: (317) 684-1100
Fax: (317) 684-6111

See Larger MapGet directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Map

frankkraft_sidbr_map

Footer

  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
footer-logo

Frank & Kraft Attorneys at Law
Attorney Advertisement

© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.

© 2023 · American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Contact Us