How to Report Elder Financial Abuse: A Step-by-Step Guide for Families

You found the bank statements. The withdrawals don't make sense — $2,000 to a name you don't recognize, another $3,500 two weeks later, then a cashier's check your mother has no memory of writing. You're almost certain someone is taking advantage of her. But now what? Who do you actually call?

Most families who discover elder financial abuse feel paralyzed at this exact moment. The urgency is overwhelming, but the reporting landscape is confusing — Adult Protective Services, the police, the bank, the FTC, the FBI. It's not clear which agency does what, or whether reporting to one is enough.

This guide walks you through the reporting process step by step, so you can act quickly and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Step 1: Document everything before you report

Before picking up the phone, spend 30 minutes gathering evidence. Reporting agencies take cases more seriously when you arrive with specifics rather than a general suspicion.

Collect these if you can:

• Bank and credit card statements showing suspicious transactions
• Dates, amounts, and recipients of unusual withdrawals or transfers
• Names and contact information of anyone you suspect is involved
• Screenshots of suspicious emails, texts, or social media messages
• Notes from conversations where your parent mentioned giving money to someone
• Any new legal documents (power of attorney, will changes, added signers on accounts) that appeared recently

You don't need a complete case. Even partial information helps investigators. The goal is to have something concrete to hand over rather than saying "I think something is wrong."

Step 2: Call Adult Protective Services (APS)

Adult Protective Services is typically the first and most important call. Every state has an APS office, and they are specifically designed to investigate elder abuse — including financial exploitation.

How to reach them:

• Call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 (nationwide, free, Monday–Friday). They will connect you to your parent's local APS office.
• You can also search online for "[your parent's state] Adult Protective Services" to find the direct number.

What to expect:

• APS will take your report and assign a caseworker if they determine the situation meets their criteria.
• Investigations typically begin within 24 hours for emergencies and within a few days for non-emergency reports.
• You can report anonymously in most states, though providing your contact information helps the investigation.
• APS can intervene even if your parent doesn't want help — they have legal authority to investigate.

Important: APS jurisdiction is based on where your parent lives, not where you live. If your mother is in Florida and you're in Ohio, you'll file with Florida APS.

Step 3: File a police report

A police report creates an official legal record of the abuse. This matters for several reasons: it can trigger a criminal investigation, it helps with bank disputes, and it's often required if you later pursue civil action.

Tips for filing:

• Go to the police department in the jurisdiction where your parent lives (or where the financial transactions occurred).
• Bring your documentation from Step 1.
• Ask for a copy of the report number — you'll need this when dealing with banks and other agencies.
• If the officer seems dismissive, ask to speak with a detective or someone who handles financial crimes or elder abuse specifically.

Not every police department has dedicated elder abuse units, but the report itself is valuable regardless. It creates a paper trail that other agencies can reference.

Step 4: Notify the bank and financial institutions

Banks have legal obligations under the Senior Safe Act to report suspected elder financial exploitation. Contact your parent's bank immediately and:

• Ask to speak with someone in the fraud department or elder financial exploitation unit (many large banks now have these).
• Request a freeze on suspicious transactions or accounts.
• Ask about filing a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) — the bank may have already done this, but it's worth confirming.
• If your parent has given someone unauthorized access to their accounts, request that access be revoked.

Some banks can reverse recent fraudulent transactions if reported quickly. The sooner you call, the better your chances.

Step 5: Report to federal agencies

Federal agencies can't intervene in individual cases the way APS or police can, but their reports feed into national databases that help identify patterns and build larger cases.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

• Report online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• Or call 1-877-382-4357
• The FTC collects complaint data and shares it with over 2,800 law enforcement agencies

FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3):

• Report online at ic3.gov
• Especially important if the abuse involves online scams, wire fraud, or interstate activity
• The FBI's Elder Fraud unit specifically tracks crimes targeting people over 60

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):

• Report at consumerfinance.gov/complaint
• Useful when banks or financial institutions failed to protect your parent

Step 6: Consider consulting an elder law attorney

If the financial abuse is severe — large sums of money lost, property transferred, or a will or power of attorney was changed under suspicious circumstances — an elder law attorney can advise you on civil remedies.

Civil lawsuits can sometimes recover stolen assets, void fraudulent contracts, or reverse improper changes to estate documents. Many elder law attorneys offer free initial consultations.

The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has a directory at naela.org to find attorneys in your parent's area.

What if your parent doesn't want you to report?

This is painfully common. Many seniors resist reporting because they feel ashamed, they don't want to get a family member in trouble, or they don't believe they've been victimized.

Here's how to handle it:

• You can still report. In most states, anyone can file a report with APS — your parent's consent is not required.
• Frame it as protection, not punishment. Say: "I'm not trying to control your life. I'm trying to make sure this doesn't happen again."
• Don't blame them. Shame is the number one reason elder financial abuse goes unreported. The most helpful thing you can say is: "This isn't your fault. These people are professionals."

If your parent has cognitive impairment, you may also want to explore guardianship or conservatorship with an attorney to prevent future exploitation.

Mandatory reporting: Know your state's laws

In many states, certain professionals — doctors, social workers, bankers, and caregivers — are legally required to report suspected elder abuse. But in some states (like Texas and New Hampshire), everyone is a mandatory reporter for elder abuse, including family members.

If you're not sure about your state's laws, the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) maintains a state-by-state resource page with reporting requirements and contact information.

The clock is ticking — but you're not too late

The most important thing to understand about reporting elder financial abuse is that doing something is always better than doing nothing. Even if the money is already gone, reporting creates a record that protects your parent from further harm and may help investigators build a case against the perpetrator.

If you want a complete family protection system — including printable checklists, conversation scripts for talking to your parents about financial safety, and a step-by-step tech lockdown guide — the Elder Scam Shield puts everything in one toolkit for $14.

Related reading:

• Elder Financial Abuse: 9 Warning Signs Every Adult Child Should Know
• Scams Targeting Seniors in 2026: The Complete Guide