In August, a referral was received from the Georgia Department of Human Services Adult Protective Service that alleged funds were missing from an 89-year-old’s bank account, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office reports. “Our Financial Crimes Unit Detectives commenced an investigation into the gone astray funds,” a Facebook post reads.

The post goes on to say that after a thorough investigation, it was discovered that hundreds of thousands of dollars were missing from the victim’s account. “The victim’s niece and husband, who had power of attorney at the time, were spending money on just about everything except the care of the victim.”

In the end, (Margo and Matthew Clark) were each charged with Exploitation of the Elderly, Money Laundering, Identity Fraud, and Theft by Taking

And the sheriff’s office offered this bit of advice in avoiding such incidents:.

The specific amount that was taken was not disclosed.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞:
•Understand the signs of elder financial abuse, including unusual spending patterns, missing documents, new acquaintances with excessive influence, or sudden changes in financial habits.
•Access bank statements, credit card transactions, and other financial records to monitor for suspicious activity.
•Designate a trustworthy person as power of attorney to manage finances if needed, ensuring they act in the elder’s best interests.
•Regularly visit and talk with the elder about their financial situation, concerns, and relationships with others.

• Establish clear limits on financial assistance and access to sensitive information.
• Pay attention to any new people who seem overly interested in the elder’s finances.
• If you suspect financial exploitation, contact Adult Protective Services (APS) in Georgia to file a report.
• Consult with an attorney specializing in elder law to discuss estate planning, guardianship, and legal options if necessary.