A case study of elder abuse

1. Keeping it in the family
It was not until an accountant heard about the red flags that
he twigged that financial abuse was happening to his father-
in-law.
Another younger member of the family was taking the father-
in-law around to his banks, closing all his bank accounts, and
putting money into the younger family member’s own bank
accounts.
The lawyer for that younger family member had set up
several company accounts to hide the money and cover up
the paper trail.

2. “We call that a ‘veil, smoke and mirrors situation’. They need to be
looked at in some detail too to recognise them. The outcome was that
once the accountant realised what was happening, he took it [the
matter] to court,” McGowan said.