052 - Watch for Unusual Financial Changes
“Missing checks, unexplained withdrawals, sudden “new friends,” or changes in spending habits can be warning signs of financial exploitation or abuse.”
It’s a wonderful feeling when a new friend enters your life, or when a helpful acquaintance steps up to offer a hand with chores around the house. Loneliness can be heavy, and welcoming new people into our daily routine is a natural part of staying connected.
Unfortunately, dishonest people sometimes use kindness as a skeleton key to gain access to things they shouldn't. Financial exploitation rarely looks like a masked robber in the night; more often, it looks like a sudden, unexplained shift in daily financial habits. A checkbook goes missing, a couple of extra cash withdrawals pop up on the monthly statement, or a helpful new acquaintance suddenly takes a keen interest in bank accounts or estate planning.
When you love and trust the people around you, noticing these shifts can feel uncomfortable or alarming. However, keeping an eye on your resources isn't about being cynical—it's about protecting the independence you have worked a lifetime to build.
Protecting yourself or an older family member doesn't require complex accounting skills. You can build a safe routine with a few simple habits:
Keep your paperwork private: Store physical checkbooks, bank statements, and legal documents in a secure, locked drawer or a small home safe. Never leave them sitting out on a kitchen counter or dining table.
Normalize the "Second Opinion" rule: Make it a standard practice to say, "I never make financial decisions without talking to my family/advisor first." A true friend will respect that boundary completely.
Keep tabs on the checkbook: Periodically flip through your checkbook to ensure the numbers run in perfect consecutive order. If a blank check is missing from the middle of the pad, contact your bank immediately to flag it.
Staying aware of your financial health ensures that your generosity only goes where you truly intend it to.
What Now
If you or an elder you care for has noticed missing checks, unexplained withdrawals, or a sudden "new friend" taking an unusual interest in financial assets, take these immediate protective actions:
Contact Your Financial Institutions Immediately: Call your bank or credit union's fraud department using the number listed on the back of your debit/credit card or your official statement. Request to freeze the affected accounts, place a stop-payment on any missing or out-of-order checks, and change online banking passwords.
Report to Adult Protective Services (APS): If you suspect a deceptive new acquaintance, family member, or caregiver is exploiting an older adult, look up your local APS agency using the national Eldercare Locator or by calling 1-800-677-1116. APS can step in safely to investigate and connect the elder with protective services.
Call the National Elder Fraud Hotline: Reach out to the U.S. Department of Justice’s hotline at 1-833-372-8311. A dedicated case manager will provide free, confidential, and personalized guidance to help you document the exploitation and coordinate the next steps with law enforcement.
Consult the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: Call the nonprofit helpline at 877-908-3360 for free, empathetic guidance from trained specialists. They can assist caregivers and older adults in navigating the emotional distress of financial abuse and help outline a safe, step-by-step recovery plan.
File a Report with Law Enforcement and the FTC: Contact your local police department to file a report and establish an official legal paper trail. Additionally, document the financial exploitation externally by filing a formal report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Local Resources
Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities of Southwest Washington https://helpingelders.org/
(360) 735-5720
Clark County Volunteer Lawyers Program https://thecommonslawcenter.org/directory-leg_red_dir1/listing/clark-county-volunteer-lawyers/
(360) 695-5313
YWCA Clark County https://www.ywcaclarkcounty.org/
(360) 695-0501
