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How Much Do You Know About Elder Financial Exploitation?

Test your knowledge of this costly form of fraud targeting older adults’ assets

AARP

Published December 01, 2021

10 Questions

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How Much Do You Know About Elder Financial Exploitation?

[ {
  "question" : "Which of these is an example of elder financial exploitation?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Phishing emails aimed at harvesting older adults’ personal information for use in identity theft",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Robocalls to Social Security recipients claiming benefits will be cut off unless they make a payment",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "A company soliciting older patients to take “free” DNA tests for cancer and billing Medicare",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "A nephew pressuring an aunt with dementia to add his name to her checking account",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the AARP Public Policy Institute define elder financial exploitation as the illegal or improper use of an older adult’s assets or property by someone who has or gains that person’s trust, such as a family member, friend, neighbor or financial professional. It is distinct from frauds and scams generally committed by strangers that use deception or misrepresentation to obtain money or private data.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Which of these behaviors could be a red flag that an older adult is being financially exploited?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Unpaid bills piling up",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Withdrawals or fund transfers inconsistent with an older person's typical banking activity",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Abrupt changes in an older person’s will or other financial documents",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "All of the above",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Sudden changes in financial activity are a leading indicator of elder financial abuse. Talk to an older loved one if you see he or she is making more or larger withdrawals than in the past, altering estate plans, falling behind on bills, adding signatories to bank accounts or engaging in other atypical behavior. Be especially concerned if your loved one is unable to explain the changes or reluctant to discuss them.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "How much does reported elder fraud cost Americans a year?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "$3 billion",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "$6.3 billion",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "$8.2 billion",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "$11 billion",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Comprehensive national data on the cost of elder fraud is sparse, and estimates vary enormously. But a 2020 analysis from cybersecurity research firm Comparitech, which aggregated studies and case reports from every state, estimated damages at $6.3 billion. That’s just from reported cases. Comparitech and other researchers say financial exploitation is vastly underreported and the true cost far higher.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What percentage of elder fraud in the U.S. is committed by someone the victim knows?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "15%",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "29%",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "36%",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "55%",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A 2019 CFPB review of suspected elder fraud cases that financial institutions reported to the federal government found that more than 1 in 3 incidents involved a family member, friend, neighbor, hired caregiver or a fiduciary charged with managing the victim’s money, such as a financial adviser or a person who has been given power of attorney.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What type of known person most commonly commits elder financial exploitation?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Family member",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Fiduciary",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Caregiver",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Friend or neighbor",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Relatives are involved in nearly 58 percent of incidents of financial exploitation of older adults, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Losses in cases of elder financial exploitation are greatest when the perpetrator is:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "A stranger",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "A family member or friend",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "A fiduciary",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "A caregiver",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "When a financial professional or other fiduciary commits elder financial abuse, the average loss is $83,600, according to the CFPB’s analysis. Older adults lost, on average, $17,000 when an unknown scammer victimized them, $42,700 when the perpetrator was a relative and $57,800 when a nonfamily caregiver exploited them",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "Financial industry organizations recommend that older adults add a “trusted contact” to their accounts. What is a trusted contact?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Someone who can monitor the account and notify the institution of suspicious activity",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Someone the institution can contact if it spots questionable activity or is unable to reach you",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Someone who can conduct account business on your behalf",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Someone who can confirm a transaction is legitimate before the bank or broker processes it",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Naming a trusted contact adds protection to your account by authorizing the bank or brokerage to contact that person if it has concerns about account activity. It does not confer authority to access your account or execute transactions.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What is the best way to find a trained, trustworthy in-home caregiver?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Ask friends for recommendations",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Use a bonded and insured home care agency",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Post the job on Craigslist",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Put an ad in the paper",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A bonded, insured agency should offer protection to clients and families in cases of caregiver theft or financial abuse, including reimbursement for any losses, says Paul Greenwood, a former San Diego prosecutor and elder-fraud expert. Ask about the agency’s liability protections and make sure that it does criminal background checks and confirms its home aides’ training and credentials.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "AARP’s BankSafe program aims to protect older adults from financial exploitation by:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Encouraging banks to hire additional security personnel to serve older customers",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Developing apps that monitor accounts and flag suspicious transactions",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Training family caregivers to manage their loved one�s’ money",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Training bank and credit union staff to better spot and prevent fraud",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "The AARP Public Policy Institute launched BankSafe in 2019 with input from experts in government, law enforcement, nonprofits and the financial industry. The program offers free online courses and activities for financial institutions, so they can educate employees to identify red flags for elder fraud and stop perpetrators from draining accounts. A study of the program’s pilot stage found that a BankSafe-trained employee saved customers 12 times as much money as a peer who had not gone through the course.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "What tool can you use to quickly find agencies in your community that help protect older adults from financial exploitation?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "National Elder Fraud Hotline",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Eldercare Locator",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Internet Crime Complaint Center",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Benefits.gov",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, the Eldercare Locator, at eldercare.acl.gov or 800-677-1116, is a directory of local resources for older adults and their families, including legal assistance and help detecting and preventing elder financial abuse. ",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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How Much Do You Know About Elder Financial Exploitation?

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Editor's note: This quiz was originally published in October 2011, and has been updated with new facts and figures.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Sign up for free Watchdog Alerts, review our scam-tracking map, or call our toll-free fraud helpline at 877-908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim.

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