Elder abuse is a rising problem all over our country, including Riverside County, California. Recently, the Temecula Police Department investigated suspected financial elder abuse allegedly committed by two individuals residing in Moreno Valley and San Bernardino.

Riverside County Incidents of Elder Abuse

The Temecula Police Department spent nine months investigating eleven different incidents of suspected elder abuse in the form of theft and fraudulent transactions from multiple elderly residents living at a retirement community in Temecula. Once the investigation was complete, two perpetrators were arrested for several different crimes, including elder abuse, identity theft, forgery, burglary, and embezzlement. One of the perpetrators had been employed as a leasing agent at the Temecula retirement home.

The Growing Problem of Financial Elder Abuse

Financial elder abuse involves the misappropriation of financial resources or financial control in an abusive manner in situations where the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is one in which there is an expectation of trust, and harm is caused to the elderly individual. Financial elder abuse is one of the most common types of elder abuse and is often done by a close family member or a caretaker of the victim.

Types of Financial Elder Abuse

Financial elder abuse can have many forms. This type of elder abuse may involve forgery, with the perpetrator forging the elderly person’s signature on various documents or checks. It can also occur if someone forces the elderly individual to sign away power of attorney or a will or a deed, which would benefit the perpetrator in some way once the elderly person dies. Other types of financial elder abuse include stealing money or property from the elderly person.

If someone you love has been a victim of financial elder abuse in Riverside County, California, contact the elder abuse attorneys at The Peck Law Group right away for a consultation by filling out the form on this website or calling 1-866-999-9085.

About the Author

Attorney Steven Peck has been practicing law since 1981. A former successful business owner, Mr. Peck initially focused his legal career on business law. Within the first three years, after some colleagues and friend’s parents endured nursing home neglect and elder abuse, he continued his education to begin practicing elder law and nursing home abuse law.