Elder Financial Abuse

Elder Financial Abuse is a fast-growing form of abuse of seniors and adults with disabilities. California currently has more than 4.2 million people aged 65 and older, the highest amount of elders of any state, amounting to 11% of the state’s population. That number is expected to grow to 20% within the next 20 years. The following is a list of available resources to learn more about Elder Financial Abuse, how to prevent it, and how to report it.:

Government Resources and Contact Information

• CA Office of Attorney General: Types of Elder Abuse
• CA Office of Attorney General: Bureau of Medical, Fraud, and Elder Abuse, Complaint Hotline (800) 722-0432
• CA Office of Attorney General: Victims Services Unit (877) 433-9069 (notifies victims and their families about the status of cases the AG Office is handling)
• CA Department of Social Services: Adult Protective Services (833) 401-0832
• CA Department of Financial Protection and Innovation: Seniors Against Investment Fraud (statewide outreach campaign whose purpose is to alert and educate Californians over the age of 50 about investment and telemarketing fraud crimes)
• National Center on Elder Abuse: Research, Best Practices, and Training, Elder Care Locator (800) 677-1116

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Reporting Forms

Reporting suspected dependent Adult/Elder Abuse:

• As an individual
• Spanish translation
• As a financial institution

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Other Resources

• U.S. Postal Service: Inspection Service (provides information on various kinds of mail fraud)
• AICPA: Tax Identity Theft Toolkit
• "How to Guard Client Finances Against Dementia," Journal of Accountancy, Jan. 2020
• "How CPAs Can Help Prevent Elder Fraud," CPA Insider, May 7, 2018