To report financial abuse of the elderly, call Adult Protective Services in the victim’s state, contact the elder’s bank or brokerage to freeze accounts, and file a police report if a crime has occurred. Two free phone lines route you to the right place if you are not sure where to begin: the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 connects you to local aging services and your state APS office, and the Department of Justice National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 assigns you a case manager who helps file reports at the federal, state, and local levels.1Office for Victims of Crime. National Elder Fraud Hotline In most situations you should contact more than one of these channels, because each one does something the others cannot.
Speed matters. Financial exploitation usually continues until someone intervenes, and early reporting gives investigators the best chance of freezing accounts and recovering stolen funds.
Start With Adult Protective Services
Adult Protective Services is the social services program, run by state and local governments, that investigates reports of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of older adults and adults with disabilities.2Administration for Community Living. Supporting Adult Protective Services APS is usually the best first call because caseworkers can visit the elder at home, assess the situation in person, and connect the victim with protective services without requiring you to file a police report first.
If APS finds the elder is in immediate financial danger, the agency can petition a court to freeze the victim’s assets so the suspected abuser cannot drain them further. In some cases APS seeks an emergency protective order or refers the matter for guardianship proceedings when the elder lacks capacity to manage finances independently. APS does not prosecute crimes, but its investigation records frequently become the foundation for criminal cases later handled by law enforcement or a district attorney’s office.
The fastest way to find the local APS office is to call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116, a free service operated by the Administration for Community Living.3Administration for Community Living. Eldercare Locator You can also text or chat through the Eldercare Locator website. Most APS programs accept reports from anyone, not just family members, and many states allow anonymous reports, though providing your contact information helps investigators follow up.
Urgent cases involving ongoing theft or an elder in immediate danger are typically prioritized, and APS may initiate contact within 24 hours. Non-emergency cases take longer depending on the complexity of the financial trail and the agency’s caseload.
Call the Victim’s Bank or Brokerage
Contacting the elder’s bank or credit union right away lets the institution freeze compromised accounts and stop unauthorized transactions before more money disappears. Financial institutions are required to file Suspicious Activity Reports when they know, suspect, or have reason to suspect that a transaction involves funds from illegal activity, including elder financial exploitation. Between mid-2022 and mid-2023, financial institutions filed more than 155,000 such reports flagging roughly $27 billion in suspicious activity tied to elder exploitation.4Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. FinCEN Reminds Financial Institutions to Remain Vigilant to Elder Financial Exploitation
For brokerage and investment accounts, FINRA Rule 2165 allows firms to place a temporary hold on a suspicious disbursement for 15 to 25 business days while the matter is investigated. If the firm has reported the concern to a state regulator or law enforcement and still has reason to believe exploitation is occurring, the hold can be extended by up to 30 additional business days, for a maximum of 55 business days. FINRA has proposed amendments that would allow holds of up to 145 business days through a series of additional extensions, though those changes are not yet final.5FINRA. Regulatory Notice 26-02
File a Police Report When It’s Criminal
Police departments and sheriff’s offices handle financial exploitation that crosses into criminal conduct: forging checks, stealing an elder’s identity, or taking money or property without permission. Filing a police report creates an official record that banks, courts, and other agencies often require before they will act on your behalf. If the evidence supports charges, the local district attorney’s office may prosecute the offender and seek court-ordered restitution.
Criminal restitution is imposed at sentencing and is treated as part of the offender’s punishment rather than a private debt the victim collects independently. Victims do not control collection the way they would in a civil lawsuit, but restitution orders can be enforced through wage garnishment and asset seizure by the government. A victim-witness advocate assigned by the prosecutor’s office can explain court proceedings and keep the family informed as the case moves forward.
Law enforcement is especially important when the abuser is someone outside the household, like a scammer, a fraudulent contractor, or a financial professional. Officers can issue subpoenas for bank records that are otherwise protected by privacy laws, and they coordinate with federal agencies when the fraud crosses state lines or involves the internet.
Choose the Right Federal Agency
Several federal agencies take elder financial abuse complaints, and each handles a different slice of the problem. Filing with more than one is common when the exploitation involves complex fraud, internet scams, or regulated financial products.
- FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors at 844-574-3577 is a toll-free line for senior investors who have questions about a brokerage account or suspect a broker has mishandled their money. FINRA can investigate broker misconduct and take disciplinary action, including fines and license revocation.6FINRA. FINRA Securities Helpline for Seniors
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints about financial products and services, including credit cards, bank accounts, mortgages, and debt collection, through its online portal at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB forwards complaints to the company involved and publishes responses.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Submit a Complaint About a Financial Product or Service
- The Federal Trade Commission handles reports of scams, fraud, and deceptive business practices through ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC uses these reports to build cases against scam operations and shares the data with law enforcement partners.8Federal Trade Commission. ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center is the right place for internet-based elder fraud, including romance scams, tech support scams, grandparent scams, and government impersonation schemes. File online at ic3.gov.9FBI. Elder Fraud
State Attorney General and Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The state attorney general’s office investigates consumer fraud, financial scams, and patterns of exploitation that affect multiple victims. Filing a complaint there is especially useful when the abuse involves a business, a licensed professional, or a repeat offender operating across the state. The CFPB specifically recommends contacting the state attorney general alongside other agencies when an elder has been victimized by a scam.7Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Submit a Complaint About a Financial Product or Service Contact information is available through the National Association of Attorneys General.
When the abuse happens inside a nursing home or assisted living facility, like staff overcharging for services, misusing a resident’s personal funds, or pressuring a resident to sign over assets, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program is the designated advocate.10U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How Do I Report Elder Abuse or Abuse of an Older Person or Senior Every state has a Long-Term Care Ombudsman who investigates complaints on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities. The Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 can connect you to the ombudsman in your area.
What to Gather Before You Call
A detailed report helps investigators act faster. Before you contact any agency, pull together as much of the following as you can:
- Full legal name, date of birth, and current address of the elderly person.
- Name, contact details, and relationship of the suspected abuser, whether a family member, caregiver, financial advisor, or stranger.
- Specific dates, dollar amounts, and account numbers for the suspected transactions.
- Bank statements, canceled checks, credit card statements, or investment records showing unauthorized activity.
- Whether the suspected abuser holds power of attorney or any other legal authority over the elder’s finances.
- Any information about the elder’s cognitive or physical condition at the time of the transactions.
- Suspicious phone calls, emails, text messages, or letters that suggest manipulation or undue influence.
You do not need every piece of information before reporting. Incomplete records should not delay the call; APS, law enforcement, and hotline staff can work with whatever you have. Laying events out in chronological order helps investigators see the pattern of exploitation more clearly.
Most agencies accept reports by phone, online, or by mail. Calling a dedicated hotline is the fastest way to start, because a trained professional walks you through intake in real time.1Office for Victims of Crime. National Elder Fraud Hotline Once you file, you should receive a case number or confirmation. Keep that number along with a copy of everything you submitted; you will need it for follow-up calls and any future court proceedings.
Recovering Stolen Money
Reporting addresses the safety and criminal sides of exploitation, but victims can also file a civil lawsuit to recover stolen money. Civil remedies for elder financial exploitation are governed by state law and vary significantly. Many states allow victims to recover the full value of misappropriated property plus additional damages, and some authorize courts to award double or triple the amount stolen, along with attorney’s fees, when the exploitation is proven. Courts may also grant injunctions, freeze the abuser’s assets, or rescind fraudulent transactions.
For smaller losses, small claims court may be an option. Monetary limits range from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on the state, with most falling between $5,000 and $10,000. Filing fees vary widely by jurisdiction and the amount in dispute; federal court filing fees are $405, while state court fees differ.
A civil case is separate from any criminal prosecution and can proceed even if the district attorney decides not to bring charges. A criminal conviction can make a civil case easier to win because the facts established at trial may carry over. Consulting an elder law attorney before filing is worthwhile, and many attorneys in this area offer free initial consultations.