One type of elder abuse that sadly sometimes occurs is elder financial abuse. Such elder abuse can be very harmful, as it can deprive elderly individuals of needed financial assets. Thus, one hopes that individuals are held accountable when they financially exploit an elderly individual.

Recently, a case involving allegations of financial exploitation of an elderly individual has arisen in Oregon. The case involves a 21-year-old woman. The woman is accused of having stolen money from an 83-year-old man she befriended.

According to authorities, the woman pretended to be fond of the man and gained the man's trust. Authorities allege that the woman falsely claimed to the man that she had cancer and diabetes and that she needed money to cover expenses related to these conditions. Allegedly, over a period of several months, the man gave the woman $10,000 in response to these alleged false claims.

Allegedly, the 83-year-old man then refused a request for money that the 21-year-old woman made to him. It has been alleged that the woman and her boyfriend then tricked the man into meeting them, stole the man's wallet and used his credit cards to make $20,000 in purchases.

According to the article on KPTV's website which reported this story, the 21-year-old woman faces 88 criminal charges in connection to the allegations mentioned above. The article did not mention what specific sentencing the woman could be given if she is convicted of the charges that she faces. One wonders what will ultimately happen in this case.

Source: KPTV, "Police: Young woman swindles elderly man," Jan. 12, 2012