What could be worse than exploiting an elderly person by stealing or misusing their money or property?
Adult Protective Services (APS), a program of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), investigated 13,380 cases of exploitation in Texas fiscal year 2023 including 349 in the Midland-Odessa-San Angelo area.
According to a DFPS news release, financial exploitation is when a relative, caretaker (or anyone with an ongoing relationship) improperly or illegally uses the money or property of someone who is elderly or has a disability for personal benefit or profit.
“It’s difficult working with someone who has been exploited by a family member,” Marci Leffler, Adult Protective Services Community Engagement Specialist, said in the release.
“There’s a lot of denial. Their trust is what was exploited.”
During the initial DFPS investigation, APS staff work with law enforcement and financial institutions to freeze accounts and stop the exploitation.
APS is putting a spotlight on stopping financial exploitation and other important issues for the elderly from now until the end of the month. More information and resources are available on ProtectTexasAdults.com.
Recognizing Financial Exploitation
The warning signs of financial exploitation include:
- Sudden changes in bank accounts or banking practices.
- Unexplained or unexpected withdrawal of large sums of money.
- Adding names to someone’s bank signature card.
- Unfamiliar people accompanying bank customers to withdraw large sums.
- Unauthorized withdrawal of funds using ATM cards or sudden transfers of assets.
- Sudden changes in financial documents.
- Unpaid bills despite having enough money.
- Previously uninvolved relatives who suddenly claim rights to a person’s affairs and possessions.
- Abuse of power of attorney.
If you see signs of financial exploitation, call the Texas Abuse Hotline (800-252-5400) or report online at TxAbuseHotline.org.
Find out more about this issue at ProtectTexasAdults.com, including tips on how Texans can protect themselves from financial exploitation.
APS counts on the efforts of a wide variety of partners. Our Partnering to Protect campaign is designed to foster strong and effective collaborations across the state. Together we can protect the unprotected.
APS Facts and Figures
- APS is a division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Its mission is to protect people who are 65 or older or who have disabilities from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by investigating, and providing or arranging for services to alleviate or prevent further maltreatment.
- Texas has more than six million residents who are 65 or older or who are younger adults (18-64) and have a disability.
- APS validated 954 people living at home were victims of financial exploitation in Texas last fiscal year – 24 of those in the Midland-Odessa-San Angelo area.
