If it’s not your money, it’s a crime!

October 1 — What’s worse than exploiting an elderly person by stealing or misusing their money or property?

Adult Protective Services (APS), a program of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS), investigated 13,380 exploitation cases in fiscal year 2023 in Texas, including 349 in the Texas region. Midland-Odessa-San Angelo.

According to a DFPS press release, financial abuse occurs when a parent, guardian (or anyone in an ongoing relationship) inappropriately or illegally uses the money or property of an elderly or disabled person to for personal or profit purposes.

“It’s difficult to work with someone who has been taken advantage of by a family member,” Marci Leffler, Adult Protective Services community engagement specialist, said in the release.

“There’s a lot of denial. It’s their trust that’s been exploited.”

During the initial DFPS investigation, APS staff work with law enforcement and financial institutions to freeze the accounts and stop the exploitation.

APS is focusing on addressing financial abuse and other issues important to seniors through the end of the month. More information and resources are available at ProtectTexasAdults.com.

Recognize financial abuse

Warning signs of financial abuse include:

— Sudden changes in bank accounts or banking practices.

— Unexplained or unexpected withdrawal of large sums of money.

— Adding names to someone’s bank signature card.

— Unknown people accompanying bank customers to withdraw large sums.

— Unauthorized withdrawal of funds using ATM cards or sudden transfers of assets.

— Sudden changes to financial documents.

— Unpaid bills despite having enough money.

— Previously uninvolved relatives who suddenly claim rights to a person’s business and property.

— Abuse of proxy.

If you see signs of financial exploitation, call the Texas Abuse Hotline (800-252-5400) or report it online at TxAbuseHotline.org.

Learn more about this issue at ProtectTexasAdults.com, including tips on how Texans can protect themselves from financial exploitation.

The APS relies on the efforts of a wide variety of partners. Our Partnering to Protect campaign is designed to foster strong and effective collaborations across the state. Together we can protect the unprotected.

APS Facts and Figures

—APS is a division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS). Its mission is to protect persons aged 65 or older or disabled from abuse, neglect, and exploitation by investigating and providing or arranging for services to alleviate or prevent further mistreatment.

— Texas has more than six million residents aged 65 or older or young adults (18-64) with disabilities.

— APS validated that 954 people living in their homes were victims of financial exploitation in Texas last fiscal year, including 24 in the Midland-Odessa-San Angelo region.