How to Report Suspected Elder Financial Exploitation in Florida

What to have in front of you

• Adult’s name, location, approximate age, and contact details
• Why the adult may be vulnerable or disabled
• Specific transactions, missing money, changed beneficiaries, forged documents, coercion, unpaid care, or sudden account changes
• Dates, amounts, account or institution names, messages, witnesses, and the suspected person’s relationship
• Immediate safety, medical, housing, food, utility, and access concerns

What to say when someone answers

“I have reasonable cause to suspect financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The adult is at [location], may be vulnerable because [facts], and the suspected exploitation is [specific events, dates, amounts, and person involved]. The immediate safety concern is [concern].”

Small but useful: Write down the person’s name, the date, the exact next step, and when you should call again.

Do this in order

1. 1

   Preserve records without confronting a suspected exploiter in a way that could increase danger. Save statements, checks, messages, notices, names, dates, and screenshots.

2. 2

   Call 911 for immediate danger, threats, active theft, or urgent medical risk; then contact the Abuse Hotline. Online reporting is not for an urgent situation.

3. 3

   Give concrete facts and a way to locate the adult. It is okay if some details are unknown. Ask whether the report meets acceptance criteria and record any confirmation available.

4. 4

   Also contact the bank or card issuer’s fraud department for active unauthorized transactions and local law enforcement when a crime may have occurred. An APS report does not automatically freeze an account.

What happens next

DCF says accepted qualifying reports are assigned for protective investigation. A protective investigator makes face-to-face contact with the alleged victim within 24 hours, interviews people with relevant knowledge, evaluates safety, and determines whether the allegations occurred and protective help is needed. Law enforcement may be involved.