Unfortunately, financial
abuse against the elderly and vulnerable is very common not only in this
country but this is a worldwide issue.
Financial abuse is usually committed by someone in a position of trust, such as an attorney under a Lasting or Enduring Power of Attorney, a carer or a court appointed deputy. It is not uncommon for the “abuser” to be a friend of family member of the victim and someone who has been trusted with access to the person’s finances and assets.
Examples of some of the most
common forms of financial abuse include:
It is important to act
quickly when financial abuse is suspected whether in the lifetime of the victim
or after death so that appropriate action can be taken swiftly to trace the
assets and prevent the abuser from disposing of them. It is may be necessary in
these cases to apply for freezing injunctions to freeze the assets of the
abuser whilst the claim is investigated fully.