Don't know what's going on.......but what would you think?

Question

When my father-in-law died, my mother-in-law needed help. Okay she had a "friend", not a man just a daughter type "friend" that was helping her out with her bills and things of that nature. Well my mother-in-law can't see very well, her diabetes is affecting her eyesight. She started getting calls from credit card companies and places she had accounts saying that she was two to three months behind on her payments. When she asked this "friend" she said she would take care of it. However this friend has not provided any reciepts or any of the money from the benefit that was held to help pay the funeral expenses of my father-in-law. She is now avoiding my mother-in-law.

I am very angry and I suspect that this woman has robed my mother-in-law and ruined her credit. How can we prove this and what can we do about it? I'm going to set up an account at my bank for my mother-in-law and I told her not to give this woman any more of her money.

What do yo all think?

Answer 1

does this friend have Power of Attorney papers or anything? If not you could probably prove it by signatures... if she has POA there is nothing you can do about it. If she used cash for everything there isnt really a whole lot you could do either... except hope someone learns from this and doesnt give people access to accounts they have no business accessing

Answer 2

You are wise to be concerned and where there is smoke there is usually fire. I would contact the local authorities where your M.I.L. lives and report it as soon as possible. They should be helpful in telling you what else should be done. She should also close the credit card accounts, as the woman more than likely has the numbers to the account to and could rack up some very hefty debts to boot! You did the right thing too by setting up an account at your bank for her.

Answer 3

I think you`re right on in that this "friend" was robbing your mother in law !

There must be cheques , withdrawals , payment slips etc where signatures can be compared . If money was withdrawn and not sent .... it had to go somewhere ! It shouldn`t be too difficult to track that down because financial institutions require a signature before they give or transfer money .

If you don`t get anywhere that way , take your suspicions to the police and get some advice . If they see a crime has been commmited . they`ll take over .

Answer 4

Go to the bank and take her money from the existing accounts and open up a new account for her. This will stop the 'friend' from writing any more checks. check the monthly bank statements that show a copy of the checks that are written and to whom they were made out to and who cashed them. With this evidence, you can go to the police and file a report on the 'friend' who was stealing money from the account.

Answer 5

Get your mother-in-law's credit report. Get bank records and statements, get copies of withdrawal slips, checks. I am sure that the "friend" left a paper trail of some sort. The friend is stealing from your mother-in-law. By the way, where were you?

Answer 6

You are right. Talk to the rep at your bank when you set up her new account, and they can tell you who to talk to about the scam. Be absolutely sure that you alert the proper authorities!! People who take advantage of our seniors should be shot!

Answer 7

I think your best bet is to talk to a lawyer and find out your options. Tell them all this and see what the lawyer says. Good luck to you

Answer 8

Think it is time to call the police. Sounds like a crime has been committed.

Answer 9

This "friend" was a scam artist. I would call the police and get them involved.

Answer 10

Your suspicians are one hundred correct. Report this to the police and let them investigate this matter.