When a parent in Surprise may be losing money to someone close

Adult child on a video call beside a shut-off notice, worried about a parent in Surprise losing money

It usually starts with something small. Dad mentions a new friend from the rec center who's been "helping with the bills." Mom's car has been sold and nobody can say to whom. A credit card statement arrives at your house by mistake with charges at places your parent never goes. You live in Seattle or Chicago, your parent lives in Surprise, and you can't tell from that far away if you're overreacting.

Surprise has a lot of older residents, including the households of Sun City Grand, an age-restricted community inside the city. That doesn't make it any more dangerous than anywhere else. It does mean the question comes up here, often from a son or daughter who lives in another state and is asking private investigators what's possible.

This is general information. If you think a parent is in immediate danger, call 911. If you suspect abuse, neglect or exploitation, report it to Adult Protective Services. Talk to an elder law attorney about guardianship, powers of attorney and recovery of money.

Signs worth paying attention to

None of these prove anything. Several together are worth acting on.

A new person who has quickly become very close: a neighbor, a caregiver, a romantic interest, a "financial adviser" no one else has met. Changes to bank accounts, wills, powers of attorney or property deeds, especially if your parent can't explain them. Unpaid bills or utility shut-off notices despite a steady income. Large or regular cash withdrawals, gift cards, or wire transfers. Your parent becoming secretive, isolated or anxious about the new person, or suddenly hard to reach without that person present.

Phone and internet scams are a separate problem from someone close, and they often need a different response, including reporting to the bank right away.

Report it, even if you're not sure

Arizona's Adult Protective Services, part of the Department of Economic Security, takes reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of vulnerable adults. The hotline is 1-877-SOS-ADULT (1-877-767-2385), and DES also has an online reporting form that is available around the clock.

You don't need proof to make a report. APS has its own authority to look into a report, which a family member and a private investigator don't have.

Where a private investigator fits

A licensed private investigator can't get your parent's bank records without legal authority, and can't record conversations they aren't part of. Arizona's interception statute, A.R.S. 13-3005, makes intercepting a call or electronic communication without a participant's consent a felony, as is recording a conversation you aren't present for without a party's consent. That rules out hidden recorders in your parent's home and listening in on their calls.

What a private investigator can do is lawful fact-finding that supports APS, the police, the bank or your lawyer.

Background on the new person. Public-record research on their real name, past addresses, court history and any previous complaints. People who exploit older adults sometimes have a history of doing it.

Tracing property. Whether a vehicle, house or other asset has changed hands, and to whom, using public records such as recorded deeds.

Observation in public. Whether the new person is driving your parent's car, coming and going from the house at all hours, or taking your parent to the bank. That's documented from public places only.

Interviews. With care, a private investigator can talk to neighbors, friends and others who've seen what's going on, and write it down in a form that a lawyer or court can use.

Bringing in the court

If your parent can no longer manage their finances and someone is taking advantage of that, a lawyer may advise asking the court for a guardianship or conservatorship. In Maricopa County that's a Superior Court matter. The court's locations include the Northwest Regional Center at 14264 W. Tierra Buena Lane in Surprise and the Old Courthouse in downtown Phoenix, which the court lists for probate. A private investigator's findings can help your lawyer explain to a judge why the court should step in.

Handling your parent with care

Your parent is an adult with rights, including the right to make choices you disagree with. An investigation that feels like spying can damage your relationship and push them closer to the person you're worried about. Many families do better by visiting, talking to their parent's doctor and bank (with permission), and bringing in a lawyer early. A private investigator is one tool among several, not the first call.

Finding someone in the area

Check any private investigator's DPS license through the Public Services Portal, and ask whether they've handled elder financial cases. Our guide to verifying an Arizona private investigator license shows how.

The Surprise private investigators page and the West Valley private investigators page list private investigators who are members of the Arizona Association of Licensed Private Investigators (AALPI). If the worry is about a caregiver you're about to hire rather than one already in the house, read our piece on vetting in-home help in Surprise.

Other listings are on the Surprise page. Today, write down the APS number and every change you've noticed, with dates.

See the board: everyone in Surprise · private investigators only.