Son’s Remodeling Scheme
Back Story
The victim, in this case, moved in with his son, the perpetrator, from another state after the passing of his wife. Once the victim moved in, his other children were denied access to him. Then, major renovations began on the perpetrator’s home.
Investigation
The perpetrator began using his father’s money to remodel his own house, including a major bathroom renovation and inground pool addition, by cashing $175,000 in checks from the victim’s accounts and depositing the funds into his account. Debit card purchases for home improvement stores totaled $20,000.
Red Flags
Red flags, in this case, could be identified as the significant amount of funds being transferred from the victim’s accounts to the perpetrator’s accounts, the victim’s other children being denied visitation to their father, and significant debit card purchases for home improvement expenses when the victim no longer owns a home.
Summary
The story of the Son’s Remodeling Scheme serves as a stark reminder of the devastating effects of elder financial exploitation. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon situation and can even happen with someone as close as a son or daughter. Elder financial exploitation is a growing problem, and it can be challenging to detect. Usually, the victims are hesitant to come forward because they are embarrassed or ashamed. However, it is important to remember that anyone can fall prey to this type of abuse and it is crucial to speak up if you suspect that a loved one is being exploited.
