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Financial or material abuse

Financial abuse includes theft (of money or possessions), fraud, scams or coercion of somebody in relation to their financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with loans, wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions. It can also involve the misuse of legal authority over somebody’s finances, such as a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), or the misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. Rogue trading, such as unnecessary or overpriced property repairs, is also a form of financial abuse.

While the Care Act 2014 definition is clear, financial abuse can take many forms. It is a type of abuse that often starts subtly and can be difficult to detect.

Financial abuse often involves or is associated with:

someone taking or misusing another person’s money or belongings for their own gain
harming, depriving or disadvantaging the victim
controlling someone’s purchases or access to money
being associated with other forms of abuse
not always involving a crime such as theft or fraud

Types of Financial Abuse

Financial abuse can vary significantly, making it difficult to detect and identify. As outlined in the Care Act 2014, it can relate to money, property or personal belongings.

Financial abuse might include:

borrowing money and not repaying it
stealing money or belongings
taking pension payments or other benefits away from someone
taking money as payment for visiting or spending time with someone
forcing someone to sell their home or assets without their consent
tricking someone into making poor investments
pressuring or forcing someone to make changes to wills, property ownership or inheritance arrangements

Signs of Financial Abuse

Signs that someone may be experiencing financial abuse include:

unexplained loss of money or an inability to maintain their usual lifestyle
lack of money to pay for essentials such as rent, bills or food
a lack of cooperation or evasive behaviour from a person authorised to manage their finances
inability to access bank accounts or check account balances
a noticeable decline in living standards or the absence of items they would normally have
rent arrears, eviction notices or other debts
unusual or inappropriate purchases, or large withdrawals shown on bank statements
isolation from, or withdrawal from, friends and family
not having items they would reasonably be expected to afford, such as a television, clothing or personal grooming products
regular visits from door-to-door traders or frequent cold calls
failure to provide receipts or clear financial records by someone managing transactions on the person's behalf

Case study: Working Together to Prevent Financial Abuse

Adult A was receiving support from mental health services and had family members acting under a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) to help manage their finances. Concerns were raised that Adult A was at risk of financial abuse, alongside emotional harm arising from family conflict and allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour.

Relationships within the family had become strained and complex, making it difficult for Adult A to feel confident about decisions affecting their finances and wellbeing. Professionals needed to balance safeguarding concerns with Adult A's wishes, cultural and spiritual needs, mental capacity considerations, and the legal responsibilities associated with the LPA arrangement.

What happened

A multi-agency safeguarding response was coordinated involving mental health services, adult social care, the Safeguarding Public Protection Team, and other relevant partners. Professionals worked together to assess risks, review the management of Adult A's finances, and ensure that decision-making remained focused on the adult's rights, wishes, and best interests.

The care team used a person-centred approach, regularly assessing Adult A's capacity to make specific decisions and ensuring they were involved wherever possible. A family-focused approach was also adopted to support constructive communication, reduce conflict, and improve understanding of the impact that family disputes were having on Adult A.

An agreed communication plan was developed to support effective information sharing between agencies and family members while remaining sensitive to cultural and family circumstances.

Outcome

Through effective multi-agency working, risks relating to potential financial abuse were identified and addressed. Safeguarding measures were put in place to protect Adult A's finances and wellbeing, while maintaining family involvement where appropriate.

Adult A remained at the centre of all decision-making and was supported to achieve positive outcomes. The coordinated response helped reduce risk, improve communication between those involved, and ensure that care and support were delivered safely and collaboratively.

Key learning

financial abuse can occur alongside other forms of abuse, including emotional and psychological abuse
adults must remain at the centre of safeguarding practice, with careful consideration given to mental capacity and decision-making rights
effective multi-agency and multidisciplinary working is essential when managing complex family dynamics and potential financial exploitation
clear communication and coordinated information sharing can help reduce risk and improve outcomes for adults at risk

Getting help

Report Fraud is the UK's national fraud and cyber crime reporting service. You can report fraud online or by calling 0300 123 2040. Businesses, charities and other organisations experiencing a live cyber attack should contact them immediately.

Turn2us is a national charity that provides practical help for people who are struggling financially.

Cifas is a not-for-profit organisation that brings different sectors together to help prevent fraud and financial crime.