Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and often the hardest for families to spot. Here's how Washington law defines it, the warning signs, and exactly who to call in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties.
By Marcus Reyes, LSW · August 18, 2026
Washington defines financial exploitation broadly under RCW 74.34: the illegal or improper use of a vulnerable adult's money, property, or resources for someone else's benefit. That covers obvious theft, but also more common patterns families miss — a new 'friend' or caregiver added to a bank account, sudden changes to a will or power of attorney, unexplained large withdrawals or wire transfers, and a family member 'borrowing' money that's never repaid. A vulnerable adult under the statute includes anyone 60 or older who can't manage their own resources, as well as adults with a functional disability regardless of age.
Nationally, financial exploitation is the most reported form of elder abuse, and it's frequently committed by someone the older adult trusts — a relative, a paid caregiver, or a new acquaintance — rather than a stranger. That's part of why it goes unreported: victims are often embarrassed, afraid of retaliation, or afraid of losing the relationship.
Sudden changes in banking habits — unusual ATM withdrawals, new authorized signers, or accounts moved to a new institution — are the clearest signal. Also watch for unpaid bills despite adequate income, missing belongings or property, a new acquaintance who becomes controlling of finances or isolates the person from family, sudden changes to a will, trust, or beneficiary designations, and an older adult who seems confused or evasive about money they used to track carefully. Caregivers who discourage visits or refuse to let you speak with your family member alone are a particular red flag, especially layered on top of financial changes.
Cognitive decline raises the risk significantly — scammers and exploitative caregivers often target people with early dementia specifically because memory gaps make the exploitation harder to detect and easier to deny.
If a vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, call 911. For non-emergency reporting, Washington's Adult Protective Services (APS), part of DSHS Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, investigates financial exploitation, physical abuse, neglect, and self-neglect statewide: call 1-877-734-6277 (this line covers King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties along with the rest of the state). Reports can be made anonymously, and Washington law protects good-faith reporters from liability — you do not need proof, only a reasonable concern.
If the exploitation happened in a licensed facility — an assisted living community, adult family home, or nursing home — you can also file a complaint directly with DSHS Residential Care Services, which investigates facility-based abuse and exploitation and can take licensing action separately from a criminal referral. For suspected financial crimes specifically, the Washington State Attorney General's office and local police financial-crimes units can open a parallel investigation, and banks are legally required to report suspected exploitation of vulnerable adults to APS under Washington's mandatory-reporting rules for financial institutions.
A durable power of attorney given to a trustworthy person, ideally with a 'springing' clause or built-in oversight, is the single best structural protection — but the same document can be misused if handed to the wrong person, so choosing the agent carefully matters more than having the document at all. Setting up bank account alerts for unusual activity, adding a trusted second contact for account monitoring (not necessarily transaction authority), and simply staying in regular contact so changes in mood or routine don't go unnoticed all reduce risk substantially.
If your family is already navigating a suspected exploitation situation alongside a care transition, a free local senior-care advisor can help you move quickly on safe housing options like adult family homes or assisted living while APS and any legal process work in parallel.
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