How to spot the signs of financial abuse
What is financial abuse?
Is a friend or relative forcing you to take out money or loans?
Has someone you know offered to buy shopping or pay bills with your money, then used your cash for something else?
Have you had cheques or pensions cashed without your permission?
You could be a victim of financial abuse.
According to the organisation Money Helper, financial abuse is a form of domestic abuse that involves someone else controlling your spending or access to cash, assets and finances.
Financial abuse can take different forms and can happen to anyone of any age.
Abusers can be partners, ex-partners, family members or others, such as carers.
Statistics from the charity Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) shows 1 in 5 women in the UK has experienced economic abuse by a current or former partner in the past 12 months.
What are the signs to look out for?
Sometimes it can take a long time to realise you are being financially abused or for you to label what is happening as ‘abuse’. Money Helper has a list of things that can help you identify what’s happening.
Where can you go for help and advice?
Call the Live Fear Free Helpline on 0808 801 0800 or visit the Live Fear-Free Helpline
Taking the first steps to break free of financial abuse may seem scary, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Visit the Welsh Women’s Aid website
You can find out more on the Money Helper website