Financial Abuse: A Means of Control

Financial abuse is on the rise. It can affect partners in a romantic relationship or elderly people who are cared for by another adult. By recognizing the signs of abuse, you can take steps to prevent it from happening to you or a loved one.

Romance That Isn’t

Advice columns are filled with examples of partner or spousal abuse. Some signs of an abuser include taking an unusual interest in your finances, offering to take over your checking account to make sure bills are paid, discouraging you from working or sabotaging your employment, stealing from you, criticizing you, and asking you to pay for dinners, movies, and other things.

Protect Yourself

You can thwart an abuser by controlling your phone and preventing others from viewing your texts or search history; opening your own mail; not sharing your PIN; keeping checks, bankcards and other payment methods in a safe place; reviewing bank and card statements; refusing to lend new romantic interest money or cosign a loan; and refusing to open a joint checking, savings or credit account with a person you haven’t known long.

If You’re Older

Older people can protect themselves by being proactive. Appoint someone you trust as a contact for bank and investment accounts or give them view-only access. Consider signing up for a monitoring service that detects suspicious activity. Stay in contact with loved ones, and make sure they know your caregivers.