Identity And Financial Abuses 

Financial Identity Theft occurs when a thief steals an individual's personal identity and commits a crime that results in financial injury to the victim. Information can include name, bank account number, credit card numbers and other personal financial data.

Financial abuse take many forms. It’s a type of abuse that can start subtle and is often hard to detect.

When defining financial abuse, we know there are many elements at play. It is true that financial abuse often involves or is associated with:-

-Someone taking or misusing someone else’s money or belongings for their own gain

-Harming, depriving or disadvantaging the victim

-Controlling someone’s purchases or access to money

-Often associated with other forms of abuse

-Doesn’t always involve a crime like theft or fraud

Types of financial abuse :-

Financial abuse might look like:

-Borrowing money and not giving it back

-Stealing money or belongings

-Taking pension payments or other benefit away from someone

-Taking money as payment for coming to visit or spending time together

-Forcing someone to sell their home or assets without consent

-Tricking someone into bad investments

-Forcing someone to make changes in wills, property or inheritance

Who commits financial abuse?

Financial abuse can be committed by anyone anywhere, even people employed to provide care.

This might include:

Spouses, friends, family and neighbours

People employed to provide care

Volunteers

Strangers

Financial abuse advice and information

If you want to report or get advice about financial abuse there are a number of options open to you.

Local Safeguarding Adults Board

If you want to report financial abuse – you can contact your local safeguarding adults board. You should be able to find their contact information by searching ‘safeguarding adults board’ and your local area.

Helplines

As financial abuse is often associated with other forms of abuse, there are helplines associated with other forms of about which can help. 

                                                                                     - SUPRIYA DUDI