Elder Financial Abuse: Spot the Signs and Protect What Matters Most

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month – Let’s Talk About Financial Exploitation

As our loved ones age, their wisdom and life experiences are priceless. But so is their financial security. Unfortunately, elder financial abuse is one of the fastest-growing and most underreported crimes affecting seniors today.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), suspicious financial activity linked to elder exploitation typically goes undetected for an average of four months. What starts as a “small favor” or innocent-looking transaction can quietly snowball into devastating losses.

The average loss when a trusted person is involved? Around $50,000 per case.

That’s why awareness is one of the strongest forms of protection.

How Elder Financial Abuse Often Starts

It rarely looks like a dramatic crime at first. Instead, it hides in everyday interactions:

• A phone call that creates panic or urgency (“You must act now!”)
• Requests for money or help from a family member, friend, or new “close companion”
• Small, frequent withdrawals or transfers that gradually increase
• A new person suddenly involved in financial decisions or accessing accounts
• Pressure to change wills, add names to accounts, or sign documents quickly

The hardest truth? Most perpetrators aren’t strangers. They’re often people the older adult knows and trusts — which is exactly why these situations are so painful and hard to detect.

Why It’s Hard to Catch

Most elder financial abuse involves bank transfers or electronic payments that can appear completely normal on a statement. Even when red flags appear, fewer than 1 in 3 cases are reported to authorities. This silence allows the abuse to continue far longer than it should.

The Simple Strategy That Works: Pause. Ask. Protect.

The best defense doesn’t require complex tools — just intention and support:

🛑 Pause When something feels urgent or off, take a breath. Scammers and manipulators thrive on speed. Slowing down is powerful.

❓ Ask Talk it over with someone you trust — a family member, advisor, or your credit union. A second opinion can save tens of thousands of dollars.

🛡️ Protect Stay informed about common tactics, monitor accounts regularly, and set up safeguards like transaction alerts and trusted contact permissions.

We’re Here to Help You Protect What Matters

At One Vision Credit Union, we believe financial security should feel personal and peaceful — especially in your later years. Whether you’re a senior, an adult child concerned about a parent, or a caregiver, our team is ready to help you review accounts, spot unusual activity, and put protective measures in place.

This June, during Elder Abuse Awareness Month, take one meaningful step to protect yourself or someone you love.

Call us. Visit a branch. Or schedule a quick financial wellness check. We’re more than a credit union — we’re your partner in protection.

URGENT SCAM ALERT: Phone Number Spoofing

We’ve received multiple reports of fraudsters posing as One Vision, calling about “suspicious debit card transactions” and demanding your card number, a validation code, your online banking User ID, or your password to “resolve” the issue.

⚠️ HANG UP NOW if you get such a call! Do NOT share any personal or account details. These are scams designed to gain access to your accounts.

Protect Yourself: One Vision will NEVER request your secure access codes, debit/credit card details, or online banking credentials via phone, text, or email. Sharing this information puts your money at serious risk.

Unsure about a call? Hang up immediately and contact us directly at (812) 945-4600 using a trusted number—NEVER redial the caller’s number. If you’ve already shared information, call us IMMEDIATELY to secure your accounts.

Immediate Steps to Protect Yourself After a Suspected Scam

1. Freeze Your Credit and Debit Cards
   Contact us or the card issuer to freeze or cancel affected cards to stop fraudulent transactions.
2. Update Passwords and PINs
   Change all passwords and PINs for your online banking, accounts, and any related services. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
3. Scan Your Device for Malware
   Run a trusted anti-malware app on your phone or computer to detect and remove any viruses or malicious software.
4. Monitor Your Accounts Closely
   Regularly check your bank accounts, credit reports, and online services for suspicious activity. Report anything unusual to your financial institution immediately.

Get Key Tips to Stay Safe! Click to Learn More.

Stay Proactive and Stay Safe!

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Questions? Call us at 812-945-4600.

New Credit Score Tool

One Vision Credit Union is excited to announce our new credit score tool. This tool will allow you instant access to your credit score and credit report, along with personalized tips on how to optimize your credit score. This new financial education piece is available free of charge on our Online Banking platform.  Click here to learn more. 

Community Event Room

Event space. Gathering space. This is the Community Room.

Need to rent a room for your next corporate or social event? Our Clarksville office has a community room available for rent to anyone in the community, and at a discounted rate for members.

• Accommodates catered wedding rehearsal dinners, baby or wedding showers, birthday parties, business meetings and more
• Full kitchen, tables and chairs provided
• Projector and large screen available for use.

Rates

Our community room is reserved in 4 hour blocks.

To rent the community event room today, contact us today.