Financial Abuse or Material Abuse
Financial abuse involves a perpetrator using or misusing money which limits and controls their partner’s current and future actions and their freedom of choice. It can include using credit cards without permission, putting contractual obligations in their partner’s name, and gambling with family assets. However, vulnerable people are also at risk of Financial Abuse from family, friends, strangers and carers and it can cover a vast number of scenarios.
Women’s Aid
Everyone working within your Religious Life Group should ensure they are familiar with the Indicators and Signs of Financial or Material Abuse…
Theft of money or possessions. Fraud or scamming.
Preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
Employees taking a loan from the person using the service
Undue pressure, duress, threat or influence put on the person in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
Arranging less care than is needed to save money to maximise inheritance
Denying assistance to manage/monitor financial affairs or to access benefits
Misuse of personal allowance in a care home or direct payment in a family home
Someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress
False representation, using another person’s bank account, cards or documents.
Exploitation of a person’s money or assets e.g. unauthorised use of car
Misuse of power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority
Rogue trading
He announced he had run up hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of debt for me –
Financial Abuse Victim
then he said that he was happy with the idea of my death in light of the huge insurance payment he would get.
Missing personal possessions
Unexplained lack of money or inability to maintain lifestyle
Unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
Power of attorney or lasting power of attorney (LPA) after the person has ceased to have mental capacity
Failure to register an LPA after the person has ceased to have mental capacity to manage their finances so that it appears that they are continuing to do so
The person allocated to manage financial affairs is evasive or uncooperative
The family or others show unusual interest in the assets of the person
Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court appointed deputy, attorney or LPA.
Recent changes in deeds or title to property
Rent arrears and eviction notices
A lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
Failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
Disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources
Unnecessary property repairs
Support for those who have experienced or been affected by Financial Abuse or Material Abuse
https://survivingeconomicabuse.org
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/get-help-dealing-with-the-effects-of-scams