U.S. Attorney warns elderly Americans to take caution when signing over power of attorney

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — Older Americans are often scammed and financially victimized by someone they know.

U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld says the type of phone or email fraud we hear most about is perpetrated by strangers .

But family members and home caregivers are also sometimes the perpetrators who fleece an elderly person out of their life savings.

He urges anyone who is hiring a home care worker, going into a nursing home, or giving someone their power of attorney to take precautions before making any decision.

Make sure that if you’re going to give someone a power of attorney, you trust that person implicitly and that you don’t give too much power to someone who might abuse that power. And finally, if you’re going to have someone come into your home to take care of you or is going to go into a home to take care of a loved one, make sure that you secure your valuables.”

U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, Northern District of West Virginia

He says to secure investment statements, bank statements, and account numbers.

He says those are all things that can allow someone to take advantage of your financial situation.

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