Financial or material abuse

Financial or material abuse involves the control of money or resources, and is done to limit a person's freedom.

Examples of this can include: 

• theft
• fraud
• scams including internet and doorstep crime
• coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions
• misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits

We have created a Financial Abuse toolkit to help you identify the warning signs and risks of financial abuse, and how to formally report it.

Possible warning signs may include: 

• missing personal possessions
• unexplained lack of money or inability to maintain lifestyle
• unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
• power of attorney or lasting power of attorney (LPA) being obtained after the person has ceased to have mental capacity
• failure to register an LPA after the person has ceased to have mental capacity to manage their finances, so that it appears that they are continuing to do so
• lack of cooperation or contact with the person allocated to manage financial affairs 
• unusual interest in the family or carer in the assets of the person
• Signs of financial hardship in cases where the person’s financial affairs are being managed by a court appointed deputy, attorney or LPA
• recent changes in deeds or title to property
• rent arrears and eviction notices
• lack of clear financial accounts held by a care home or service
• failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person
• disparity between the person’s living conditions and their financial resources, e.g. insufficient food in the house
• unnecessary property repairs

For more information about scams, or to report abuse or crime by a business, please see the council's information on Trading Standards.