Elder Fraud and Financial Exploitation: Application of Routine Activity Theory
Open accessAbstract
Background and Objectives: Elder financial exploitation, committed by individuals in positions of trust, and elder fraud, committed by predatory strangers, are two forms of financial victimization that target vulnerable older adults. This study analyzes differences between fraud and financial exploitation victims and tests routine activity theory as a contextual model for victimization. Routine activity theory predicts that criminal opportunities arise when a motivated offender and suitable target meet in the absence of capable guardians. Research Design and Methods: Fifty-three financial exploitation and fraud cases were sampled from an elder abuse forensic center. Data include law enforcement and caseworker investigation reports, victim medical records, perpetrator demographic information, and forensic assessments of victim health and cognitive functioning. Results: Fraud and financial exploitation victims performed poorly on tests of cognitive functioning and financial decision making administered by a forensic neuropsychologist following the allegations. Based on retrospective record review, there were few significant differences in physical health and cognitive functioning at the time victims' assets were taken, although their social contexts were different. Significantly more fraud victims were childless compared with financial exploitation victims. Fraud perpetrators took advantage of elders when they had no trustworthy friends or relatives to safeguard their assets. Discussion and Implications: Findings support an adapted routine activity theory as a contextual model for financial victimization. Fraud most often occurred when a vulnerable elder was solicited by a financial predator in the absence of capable guardians. Prevention efforts should focus on reducing social isolation to enhance protection.
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Even if they do not lose money, most victims still need psychological support to overcome the emotional impact of scams.
“Even if they do not lose money, most victims still need psychological support to overcome the emotional impact of scams [18].”
From “If We Don’t Listen to Them, We Make Them Lose More than Money:” Exploring Reasons for Underreporting and the Needs of Older Scam Victims (2023) · cites this paper as [18]
The Manipulation of Trust section describes an emotional impact of romance scams, saying victims lose money as well as having a broken heart. It does not say that most scam victims need psychological support or address that need among victims who lose no money. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredResearchers identify isolation as a form of psychological manipulation used in offenses or financial abuse by relatives and caretakers.
“Researchers identify isolation as a form of psychological manipulation used in offenses (e.g., in intimate partner violence: Pence and Paymar 1993; Stark 2007) or financial abuse by relatives and caretakers (DeLiema 2018).”
From “If We Don’t Listen to Them, We Make Them Lose More than Money:” Exploring Reasons for Underreporting and the Needs of Older Scam Victims (2023) · cites this paper as DeLiema 2018
The frequency of fraud perpetrated upon older adults has increased dramatically in high-income countries, and perhaps in low- and middle-income countries as well.
“The frequency of fraud has increased dramatically in high‐income countries, and perhaps in low‐ and middle‐income countries as well.”
From Mental health care for older adults: recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research (2022) · cites this paper as [86]
Warnings to older adults and their families can be most helpful in mitigating fraud threats.
“Warnings to older adults and their families can be most helpful in mitigating these threats 86 .”
From Mental health care for older adults: recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research (2022) · cites this paper as [86]
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- Authors
- DeLiema, M.
- Affiliations
- Stanford University (US)
- Corresponding author
- DeLiema, Marguerite
- ORCID
- DeLiema, Marguerite
- Venue
- The Gerontologist
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2017-03-10
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 706-718
- ISSN
- 0016-9013 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-5341
- PMC
- PMC6044329
- OpenAlex
- W2592878068
- Cited by
- 156
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 12.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- academic.oup.com/journals/pages/open_access/funder_policies/chorus/standard_publication_model (vor)
- Locations
- The Gerontologist (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Aging (T32AG000037)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Elder Abuse and Neglect
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Information Systems › Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Keywords
- elder fraud, elder financial abuse, routine activity theory, older adults, cognitive function, financial decision-making, social isolation, guardianship, fraud perpetrators, fraud victims, elder abuse
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cognition, Elder Abuse, Female, Fraud, Humans, Male, United States, Mental Competency, Crime Victims, Needs Assessment, Law Enforcement, Vulnerable Populations
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