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12 Ways to Identify Financial Abuse Against Seniors

January 19, 2021 · Retirement Life
A senior woman looking skeptical during a conversation about documents.
An older woman watches skeptically as a man in a suit gestures toward a legal document.

Question criticism

When someone starts making all sorts of critical observations about your decisions and the way you handle your finances, spend or invest your money, stand your ground and ask yourself this: are they really right or is there something else they are hoping to achieve with their demeaning comments?

If they are criticizing your judgment, intelligence and competence, or lack thereof, in using technology to manage your finances and also come with a solution involving themselves, don’t be so eager to accept their help.

A hand reaching for a credit card on a table next to a senior person.
A younger hand reaches for a credit card while an elderly person sits quietly at the table.

Figure out when help isn’t actually helpful

Another red flag you should look out for: when someone offers a lending hand with your finances, by limiting your budget and tracking your spending. This so-called offer to help can consist in looking after your credit cards, writing your checks, knowing your accounts passwords and allowing you access to a limited amount of your money while “protecting” the rest of your funds, without asking for your input.

Instead of allowing someone else to control your money, wouldn’t it be better to tell them to mind their own business?

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