It is never ok when someone wrongly takes your money or personal things, or they control what you do with your money or personal things. People should not:
- steal from you
- make you buy them things with your money
- make you give away your things
- do your shopping but make you pay more than it costs, or they keep your change
- deliberately overcharge you for things, like providing your care, or other services like gardening or cleaning
- trick you to get your money or things - sometimes called scamming
- stop you having access to your money, benefits or personal things
- tell you how you must spend your money
- make you give them your bank card so they can take money out of your account
- make you have your wages or benefits paid into their bank account, but they keep your money
- make you take out a loan for them
- refuse to pay their share of bills
- move into your home when you don’t want them to
- give your personal things to other people without you saying it’s ok
- make you pay their debts
- make you pay for repairs to your home that aren’t needed – these people are sometimes called rogue traders
- force you or rush you into signing things that you don’t understand, like legal papers
- pressure you to give them things you own, like your home, jewellery or car
If you think you or someone else is being abused please report it as soon as possible. Reporting abuse | Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board
This short film is about Financial Abuse, and how to get help to be safe.