MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Help for trustees under 

a revocable trust 

in Oregon

Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau

HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 1 

About the Consumer Financial 

Protection Bureau

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, is focused 

on making markets for consumer financial products and services 

work for consumers — whether they are applying for a mortgage, 

choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other 

consumer financial products. We empower consumers to take 

more control over their financial lives. 

The CFPB Office for Older Americans is the only federal office 

dedicated to the financial health of Americans age 62 and over. 

Along with other agencies, the Office works to support sound 

financial decision-making and to prevent financial exploitation 

of older adults. To help people (including family members) with 

legal authority to handle an older person’s money, the Office 

contracted and worked closely with the American Bar Association 

Commission on Law and Aging (ABA Commission) and state 

professionals to prepare this guide.* 

Though the guide was developed by the ABA Commission, it 

is not intended to provide legal advice or serve as a substitute 

for your own legal counsel. If you have questions or concerns, 

we recommend that you seek the guidance of an appropriate 

legal professional.

*Oregon professionals who worked on this guide are Nancy MacDonald, Fred 

Steele, and Whitney Yazzolino.
2 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 3 

What’s inside

About the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau�������������������������������������������������������1

Why read this guide? ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5

What is a fiduciary? 6

Revocable trust questions and answers 6

Four basic duties of a fiduciary ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9

Duty 1 | Act only in Rose’s best interest 9

Duty 2 | Manage the money and property in the trust carefully 10

Duty 3 | Keep the trust property separate 12

Duty 4 | Keep good records 13

More things you should know����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������14

What if there are other fiduciaries? 14

Government benefits require special fiduciaries 15

More than one beneficiary? 15

How can you avoid problems with family or friends? 15

What should you know about working with professionals? 16

Watch out for financial exploitation �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������17

Look for these common signs of financial exploitation 17

What can you do if Rose has been exploited? 18

Be on guard for consumer scams ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������19

How can you protect Rose from scams? 19

What can you do if Rose has been scammed? 20

Where to go for help �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������22

Local and state agencies 22

Federal agencies 23

For legal help 23

For accounting help 24
4 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 5 

Why read this guide? 

Like many people, you may never have been a trustee under a revocable trust 

before. That’s why we created Managing someone else’s money: Help for trustees 

under a revocable trust in Oregon. This guide will help you understand what you 

can and cannot do in your role as a trustee. In that role, you are a fiduciary. For this 

guide, a fiduciary is anyone named to manage money or property for someone 

else. You’ll find brief tips to help you avoid problems and resources for finding 

more information. 

This guide is for family and friends serving as a trustee, not for professionals or 

organizations. The guide does not give you legal advice. Talk to a lawyer if you 

have questions about your duties.

If you want to learn about making a revocable trust, this guide is not designed 

for you. Talk to a lawyer or read other guides from the Oregon State Bar, 

www.osbar.org, or others.

Let’s start with a scenario about how you might have 

become a trustee

Your family member or friend is worried that she will get sick and will not 

be able to pay her bills or make other decisions about her savings and 

her house. For this guide, we will call her Rose. Rose has signed a legal 

document called a revocable trust, sometimes also called a living trust. In 

it, she names you as her trustee. 

When she set up the trust, she should have transferred ownership of 

some or all her money and property from her name to the name of the 

trust. As her trustee, you now have the power to make decisions for Rose’s 

benefit about the money and property in the trust. The law gives you a lot 

of responsibility. 

You are now a fiduciary with fiduciary duties.
6 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

What is a fiduciary? 

Since you have been named to manage money or property for 

someone else, you are a fiduciary. The law requires you to manage 

the money and property in the trust for Rose’s benefit, not yours. 

It does not matter if you are managing a lot of money or a little. It 

does not matter if you are a family member or not.

The role of a fiduciary carries with it legal responsibilities. When 

you act as a fiduciary for Rose, you have four basic duties that you 

must keep in mind:

1. Act only in Rose’s best interest.

2. Manage the money and property in the trust carefully.

3. Keep the trust property separate from yours.

4. Keep good records.

As a fiduciary, you must be trustworthy, honest, and act in good 

faith. If you do not meet these standards, you could be removed 

as a fiduciary, sued, or you might have to repay money. It is even 

possible that the police or sheriff could investigate you and you 

could go to jail. That’s why it’s always important to remember: It 

is not your money!

Revocable trust questions and answers 

What is a revocable trust?

A revocable trust is a legal document. It is also sometimes called 

a living trust. Rose made a revocable trust to give you legal 

authority to make decisions about her money or property in the 

trust if she cannot make decisions herself because she is sick or 

injured. She also made the revocable trust to say who will get her 

money or property after she dies. In the rest of this guide we use 

“trust” as shorthand for “revocable trust.”

Different types of 

fiduciaries exist

In your role as trustee, you 

may act as or deal with 

other types of fiduciaries. 

These may include: 

Agents under a power of 

attorney—someone names 

an agent to manage their 

money and property in case 

they are not able to do it.

Representative payees

or, for veterans, VA 

fiduciaries—a government 

agency names them to 

manage government money 

that is paid to someone. 

Conservators—a court 

names them to manage 

money and property for 

someone who needs help.

Other guides explaining 

the duties of these 

fiduciaries are at: www.

consumerfinance.gov/

managing-someoneelses-money
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 7 

There are three roles under a trust.

§ The person who makes the trust may be called the settlor 

or trustor. 

§ The person who makes decisions about the money or property 

in the revocable trust is called the trustee. A trustee can be an 

individual or a financial institution. If there is more than one, 

they are co-trustees. A successor trustee may also be named 

and acts only if a trustee can no longer fulfill that role. Rose 

can name herself as trustee and you as co-trustee immediately, 

or you may be a successor trustee who can act when she can 

no longer make decisions. 

§ A person who receives money or property from the 

revocable trust is called a beneficiary. Rose may be the 

only beneficiary while she is alive, or she may name 

co-beneficiaries who receive some money or property 

from the revocable trust before she dies. The people who 

receive money or benefits from the trust after Rose dies 

are called residuary beneficiaries.

When does a trustee’s authority begin?

A trustee’s authority begins only when the trust says that authority 

begins. For example, the trust might specify that you can make 

decisions about the money and property only after Rose has lost 

the capacity to manage her property on her own.

What property does a trustee manage?

The trustee has authority only over property actually transferred 

to the trust. A trust is ineffective unless Rose puts her money or 

property into it. Oregon law requires Rose to change ownership 

of her money or property from her individual name to the name 

of the trust, for example, the Rose Roe Trust. When you are acting 

as trustee you will have the legal authority to spend and invest 

the money and property in the revocable trust for the benefit of 

Rose and any other beneficiaries. You do not have legal authority 

over any money or property that is not in the trust.

Don’t expect others to 

know what a trustee is 

or does. 

They may not understand 

that you have been named 

as a trustee. They may think 

that you have more authority 

or less authority than you 

really have. You may need 

to educate them. You could 

show them this guide.
8 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Can a revocable trust be changed or revoked?

As long as Rose still can make her own decisions and the terms of the trust allow 

her to do so, she can change or end (revoke) the revocable trust. Revocable trusts 

typically become irrevocable when certain events identified in the trust happen, 

such as when Rose becomes incapacitated or dies.

When do your responsibilities end?

Your authority and responsibilities end if:

§ Rose names a new trustee

§ Rose revokes the trust

§ The terms of the trust say it ends at a given point in time, or 

§ A court removes you as trustee. 

What if you think a change in the trust was a result of fraud or abuse?

If you think Rose does not understand the decision to take away your authority or 

end the trust, then talk to a lawyer, contact adult protective services, or call the 

police or sheriff. 

Aren’t there other types of trusts?

Yes. Other types of trusts exist and people have different reasons for making trusts. 

This guide only covers revocable or living trusts. 

Revocable trusts most likely have family or a friend as a trustee. Other types of 

trust often have professional trustees, such as a lawyer or bank trust officer. 
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 9 

Four basic duties of 

a fiduciary 

Duty 1 | Act only in Rose’s best interest

Because you are dealing with the trust’s money and property, 

your duty is to make decisions that are best for Rose and any 

beneficiaries. This means you must ignore your own interests and 

needs, or the interests and needs of other people. 

To help act in Rose’s best interest, follow these guidelines: 

§ Read the trust document and do what it says. Your authority 

is limited to what the document and Oregon law allow. 

Oregon law sets certain minimum duties, fairly similar to those 

described here, that can’t be changed by the trust document. 

Talk to a lawyer if there is anything you don’t understand. 

Follow Rose’s directions in the trust document even if you have 

the best intentions in wanting to do something different. 

§ Understand when your duty as trustee becomes effective.

The trust document may say that you become a trustee or a cotrustee right away or only when Rose can no longer make her 

own decisions. Check to see if the document says how you will 

know when Rose can no longer make her own decisions. If you 

are still unsure, get legal advice. 

§ Avoid conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest happens if you 

make a decision about Rose’s money or property in the trust 

that might benefit you or someone else at Rose’s expense. As 

a fiduciary, you have a strict duty to avoid conflicts of interest. 

If you are uncertain about whether a conflict of interest exists, 

seek legal advice.

Avoid possible 

conflicts of interest

Sometimes people have 

good intentions, but do 

things they shouldn’t. 

Because you are now a 

fiduciary, you should avoid 

any conflicts of interest. 

Here are a few examples 

of possible conflicts of 

interest:

Should you sell trust assets 

to yourself? 

Selling trust assets to 

yourself is usually seen as 

a conflict of interest (called 

self-dealing). Talk to a 

lawyer before doing this.

Should you do business 

with family? 

Like most people, Rose 

needs homeowners’ 

insurance. Because your 

spouse sells insurance, 

you decide to buy Rose’s 

insurance from him without 

shopping around for better 

coverage or prices from 

other insurance agents. This 

may be a conflict of interest.
10 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

§ Don’t borrow, loan, or give the trust’s money to yourself or others. Even if the 

trust document allows gifts or loans, consider whether the trust can afford the 

gifts or loans, and whether they are in line with what Rose would have wanted. 

A lawyer can advise you on any effects on Rose’s taxes or on her plans to give 

away her property when she dies. 

§ Avoid changing Rose’s plans for giving away her money or property when 

she dies. There may be rare situations in which changing Rose’s plans would be 

in her best interest. But you should get legal advice to make sure that the trust 

document or Oregon law allows that. 

§ Be cautious in paying yourself for the time you spend acting as Rose’s trustee. 

If the trust document does not say how much to pay yourself, Oregon law allows 

you to pay yourself a reasonable fee. If the trust spells out how much you are to 

be compensated, you can follow the trust’s instructions, but you or a beneficiary 

could seek court review if you feel the compensation is too low or high. In all 

cases, you will need to show that your fee is reasonable. Carefully document 

how much time you spend and what you do.

Duty 2 | Manage the money and property in the 

trust carefully

As Rose’s trustee, you might pay bills, oversee bank accounts, and pay for things 

she needs. You might also make investments, pay taxes, collect rent or unpaid 

debts, get insurance if needed, and do other things written in the trust or required 

by Oregon law. 

You have a duty to manage the money and property in the trust very carefully. Use 

good judgment and common sense. As a fiduciary, you must be even more careful 

with the trust’s money than you might be with your own! 

Follow these guidelines to help you make careful decisions:

§ List the trust’s money, property, and debts. You need to know what Rose’s trust 

owns and owes to make careful decisions. Your list might include:

ú Checking and savings accounts;

ú Cash;

ú Pension, retirement, annuity, rental, public benefit, or other income;

ú Real estate;
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 11 

ú Cars and other vehicles;

ú Insurance policies;

ú Stocks and bonds; 

ú Jewelry, furniture, and any other items of value;

ú Unpaid credit card bills and other outstanding loans.

Oregon law requires you to share the list of trust assets with certain beneficiaries. 

The trust document may also require you to share the list with certain others.

§ Protect the trust’s property. Keep the trust’s money and property safe. You may 

need to put valuable items in safe deposit boxes, change locks on property, and 

make sure her home or other property is insured. Make sure bank accounts earn 

interest if possible and have low or no fees. Review bank and other financial 

statements promptly. If the trust has real estate, keep it in good condition. 

§ Invest carefully. Talk to a financial professional or lawyer about safe and legal 

ways to invest the trust’s assets. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 

provides tips on choosing a financial professional at www.sec.gov/investor/

alerts/ib_top_tips.pdf. Discuss choices and goals for investing based on Rose’s 

needs and values. 

§ Pay bills and taxes on time. 

§ Cancel any insurance policies that Rose does not need. 

§ Collect debts. Find out if anyone owes the trust money, and try to collect it.
12 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Duty 3 | Keep the trust property separate from yours

Never mix money or property in Rose’s trust with your own or someone else’s. 

Mixing money or property makes it unclear who owns what. Confused records can 

get you in trouble with Rose’s family and also with government agencies such as 

adult protective services and the police or sheriff. 

Follow these guidelines: 

§ Separate means separate. Never deposit the trust’s money into your own or 

someone else’s bank account or investment account. 

§ Never hold title to the trust’s money and property in your own name. Every 

document should show the owner of the assets in your name as trustee of the 

Rose Roe Trust. This is so other people can see right away that the money and 

property belongs to the trust and not to you. 

§ Know how to sign as trustee. Sign all checks and other documents relating 

to the trust’s money or property to show that you are Rose’s trustee. For 

example, you might sign “John Doe, as trustee for the Rose Roe Trust.” Never 

just sign “Rose Roe.” 

Can Rose get any benefits?

Find out if Rose is eligible for any financial or health care benefits from 

an employer or a government. These benefits might include pensions, 

disability, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans benefits, housing 

assistance, or food stamps (now known as Supplemental Nutrition 

Assistance Program or SNAP). Use the National Council on Aging benefits 

check-up at: www.BenefitsCheckUp.org.

Help her apply for those benefits. The Aging and Disability Resource 

Connection where Rose lives can help you find information. Find the local 

Aging and Disability Resource Connection at www.ADRCofOregon.org. 

Medicaid is complicated

Get legal advice and be very careful about decisions that may affect 

Rose’s eligibility for Medicaid. The Medicaid program provides medical 

assistance and long-term care to low-income people. For information, 

visit: www.oregon.gov/dhs/spwpd/Pages/hlth_med/healthmed.aspx.
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 13 

§ Pay Rose’s expenses from the trust funds, not yours. Spending your money and 

then paying yourself back makes it hard to keep good records. If you really need 

to use your money, keep receipts for the expense and maintain a good record of 

why, what, and when you paid yourself back.

Duty 4 | Keep good records

You must keep true and complete records of the money and property in Rose’s 

trust. You have an obligation to share your records with “qualified beneficiaries” 

(defined in the law) as well as any others identified in the trust document. Oregon 

law requires an annual report and the sharing of additional specific information at 

several points in time about matters such as: 

§ the trustee’s acceptance of his or her appointment; 

§ the trustee’s contact information; 

§ the death or incapacity of the person who made the trust (the settlor); 

§ the right to a copy of the trust and annual reports; and 

§ any change in the trustee’s fees.

The annual report should identify the trust assets and their value and show all 

financial transactions during the reporting period.

Practice good recordkeeping habits:

§ Keep a detailed list of everything the trust receives and spends. Records 

should include amount of checks written or deposited, dates, reasons, names of 

people or companies involved, and other important information. 

§ Keep receipts and notes, even for small expenses. For example, write “$50, 

groceries, ABC Grocery Store, May 2” in your records, soon after you spend 

the money. 

§ Avoid paying in cash. Try not to pay Rose’s expenses with cash. Also, try not to 

use an ATM card to withdraw cash or write checks to “Cash.” If you need to use 

cash, be sure to keep receipts and notes. 

§ Getting paid? If you are being paid as trustee, be sure you are following any 

payment instructions in the trust and charging a reasonable fee, comparable to 

what other non-professional trustees charge in your area. Keep detailed records, 

as you go along, of what work you did, how much time it took, when you did it, 

and why you did it.
14 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

More things you should know

What if there are other fiduciaries?

Co-trustees

Rose may have named herself as co-trustee with you. Or she may have named 

someone else to act as co-trustee with you. The revocable trust document should 

say whether you and any co-trustees can make decisions alone or must agree on 

decisions, either unanimously or by majority rule. If the trust document does not 

say, Oregon law provides for majority rule. 

Either way, you must coordinate with any co-trustee and share information about 

decisions. Even if you and a co-trustee don’t agree on all decisions, you cannot let 

a co-trustee do something that harms Rose. You are still responsible for her and 

must act in her best interest.

Successor trustees

Rose may have named a successor trustee to act for her if you are not able to be 

the trustee. A successor trustee has no authority if you are still willing and able to 

act as trustee.

Other types of fiduciaries

Other fiduciaries may have authority to make decisions for Rose. For example, she 

may have a conservator of her property, a representative payee who handles Social 

Security benefits, or a VA fiduciary who handles veterans benefits. It is important to 

work with these other fiduciaries, and keep them informed.
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 15 

Government benefits require special fiduciaries

As trustee, you cannot manage Rose’s government benefits such as Social Security 

or Veterans benefits, unless: 

1. Her benefits are paid directly into her trust, or

2. You have been appointed by the government agency as, for example, a 

representative payee or VA Fiduciary to handle these benefits. For more 

information, contact the government agency.

More than one beneficiary?

If Rose named more than one beneficiary of her revocable trust, then you have 

fiduciary duties to each beneficiary. The trust document should say what your 

duties are to the beneficiaries. Oregon law requires the trustee to give “due regard 

to the beneficiaries’ respective interests.”

You must always be impartial when you carry out your duties as Rose’s trustee. 

You cannot show any bias toward any one beneficiary. Because each beneficiary’s 

needs are different, you do not have to treat everyone the same. But you must act 

in each beneficiary’s best interest in an unbiased way. 

Talk to a lawyer about what your duties are if Rose’s trust has named more than 

one beneficiary.

How can you avoid problems with family or friends?

Family or friends may not agree with your decisions about money and property 

in Rose’s trust. To help reduce any friction, follow the four duties described above 

and the guidelines we’ve given you. 

Sharing information with certain beneficiaries is required by Oregon law. Sharing 

information with other family or friends may help to avoid conflict, if permitted 

by the terms of the trust. For example, you might want to share any accountings 

you prepare or summaries of how you’ve spent the trust’s money. It usually is 

easier to deal with questions about a decision when it happens than to deal with 

suspicion and anger that may build over a long time. In the end, you have to make 

the final decisions. 
16 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Some family or friends may be so difficult that it is better not to share information 

with them, unless required. Use your best judgment. 

If family or friends don’t agree with your decisions, try to get someone to help sort 

it out—for example, a family counselor or mediator. See Where to go for help on 

page 22 of this guide.

What should you know about working with professionals?

In managing the trust’s affairs, you may need help from professionals such as 

lawyers, brokers, financial advisors, accountants, real estate agents, appraisers, 

psychologists, social workers, doctors, nurses, or care managers. You can pay 

them with money from the trust. 

If you need help from any professionals, remember these tips: 

§ Check on the professional’s qualifications. Many professionals must be licensed 

or registered by a government agency. Check credentials with the government 

agency. Make sure the license or registration is current and the professional is in 

good standing. Check the person’s complaint history.

§ Interview the professional thoroughly and ask questions.

§ Review contracts carefully before signing. Before hiring any professionals, get 

their proposed plan of work and expected fee.

§ Make your own decisions based on facts and advice. Listen to their advice, but 

remember you are the decision-maker. 
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 17 

Watch out for financial exploitation 

Family, friends, neighbors, caregivers, fiduciaries, business people, and others 

may try to take advantage of Rose. They may take her money without permission, 

neglect to repay money they owe, charge her too much for services, or just not 

do things she has paid them to do. If any of these happen, it may be examples of 

financial exploitation or financial abuse. As Rose’s trustee, you should help protect 

her and know the signs of financial exploitation for five important reasons: Rose 

may still control some of her funds and could be exploited;

1. Rose may still control some of her funds and could be exploited;

2. Even if Rose does not control any of her funds, she still may be exploited;

3. Rose may have been exploited already, and you may still be able to do 

something about that;

4. People may try to take advantage of you as Rose’s trustee; and

5. Knowing what to look for will help you avoid doing things you should not do, 

protecting you from claims that you have exploited Rose.

Look for these common signs of financial exploitation

§ You think that some money or property is missing.

§ Rose says that some money or property is missing.

§ You notice sudden changes in Rose’s spending or savings. For example, she: 

ú Takes out lots of money from the bank without explanation;

ú Tries to wire large amounts of money;

ú Uses the ATM a lot;

ú Is not able to pay bills that are usually paid; 

ú Buys things or services that don’t seem necessary; 
What can you do if Rose has been exploited?

§ Call the emergency 911 number if Rose is in immediate danger. 

§ Call local adult protective services (APS). The role of APS is to 

investigate reports and to provide or arrange for services to victims. 

§ If you think that Rose has been or will be the victim of a crime, call the 

police or sheriff.

§ Alert Rose’s bank or credit card company.

§ Call the local district attorney or the Oregon Department of Justice.

§ Call the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman or the Department 

of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit if Rose is in a nursing home or 

assisted living. 

§ Consider talking to a lawyer about protecting Rose from more 

exploitation or getting back money or property taken from her. 

Each agency or professional has a different role, so you may need to call 

more than one. For more information, see Where to go for help on page 

22 of this guide.

18 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

ú Puts names on bank or other accounts that you do not recognize or that she 

is unwilling or unable to explain;

ú Does not get bank statements or bills; 

ú Makes new or unusual gifts to family or others, such as a “new best friend;” 

ú Changes beneficiaries of a will, life insurance, or retirement funds; or

ú Has a caregiver, friend, or relative who suddenly begins handling her money.

§ Rose says she is afraid or seems afraid of a relative, caregiver, or friend.

§ A relative, caregiver, friend, or someone else keeps Rose from having visitors 

or phone calls, does not let her speak for herself, or seems to be controlling 

her decisions.
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 19 

Be on guard for consumer scams 

As Rose’s trustee, you should be alert to protect her money from consumer scams 

as well as financial exploitation. Criminals and con artists have many scams and 

change them all the time. They often seek unsuspecting people who have access to 

money. Learn to spot consumer scams against Rose—and against you as her trustee. 

How can you protect Rose from scams?

Consumer scams happen on the phone; through the mail, e-mail, or the Internet 

and they occur in person, at home, or at a business. Here are some tips: 

§ Help Rose put her number on the National Do Not Call Registry. 

Go to www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222. 

§ Don’t share numbers or passwords for Rose’s accounts, credit cards, or 

Social Security, unless you know whom you’re dealing with and why they need 

the information. 

§ After hearing a sales pitch, take time to compare prices. Ask for information in 

writing and read it carefully. 

§ Too good to be true? Ask yourself why someone is trying so hard to give you a 

“great deal.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

§ Watch out for deals that are only “good today” and that pressure you to act 

quickly. Be suspicious if you are not given enough time to read a contract or get 

legal advice before signing. Also watch out if you are told that you need to pay 

the seller quickly, for example by wiring the money or sending it by courier. 

§ Never pay up front for a promised prize. Suspect a scam if you are required to 

pay fees or taxes to receive a prize or other financial windfall. 
What can you do if Rose has been scammed?

If you suspect a scam, get help. Contact a local, state, or federal agency, 

depending on the type of scam. You may also need to talk to a lawyer. 

Local agencies to call are adult protective services, the Aging and 

Disability Resource Connection, the police or sheriff, or the Better 

Business Bureau. 

State agencies to call are the Oregon Department of Justice or the Office 

of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. 

Call a federal agency if scammers are in other states or countries. Federal 

agencies are the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the FBI, the 

Federal Trade Commission, or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 

Each of these agencies and professionals has a different role so you may 

need to call more than one. 

For more information, see Where to go for help on page 22 of this guide.

20 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

§ Watch for signs Rose already has been scammed. For example, does she 

receive a lot of mail or e-mail for sweepstakes? Has she paid people you don’t 

know, especially in other states or countries? Has she taken a lot of money out of 

the bank while she was with someone she recently met? Does she have a hard 

time explaining how she spent that money? Is she suddenly unable to pay for 

food, medicine, or utilities?

§ Find out more about current scams in Oregon at www.doj.state.or.us/

consumer/pages/scam_alert.aspx
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 21 

SCAM TYPES DESCRIPTION

Relative in need Someone who pretends to be a family member or friend calls or 

e-mails you to say they are in trouble and need you to wire money 

right away.

Charity appeals You get a call or letter from someone asking for money for a fake 

charity—either the charity does not exist or the charity did not call or 

write to you.

Lottery or 

sweepstakes

You get a call or e-mail that you have a chance to win a lot of money 

through a foreign country’s sweepstakes or lottery. The caller will offer 

tips about how to win if you pay a fee or buy something. Or the caller 

or e-mail says you already have won and you must give your bank 

account information or pay a fee to collect your winnings.

Home 

improvement

Scammers take money for repairs and then they never return to do the 

work or they do bad work. Sometimes they break something to create 

more work or they say that things need work when they don’t.

Free lunch Scammers invite you to a free lunch and seminar, and then pressure 

you to give them information about your money, and to invest the 

money with them. They offer you “tips” or “guaranteed returns.”

Free trip Scammers say you’ve won a free trip but they ask for a credit card 

number or advance cash to hold the reservation.

Government 

money

You get a call or letter that seems to be from a government agency. 

Scammers say that if you give a credit card number or send a money 

order, you can apply for government help with housing, home repairs, 

utilities, or taxes.

Drug plans

Scammers pretend they are with Medicare prescription drug plans, 

and try to sell Medicare discount drug cards that are not valid. 

Companies with Medicare drug plans are not allowed to send 

unsolicited mail, emails, or phone calls.

Identity theft

Scammers steal personal information—such as a name, date of birth, 

Social Security number, account number, and mother’s maiden name—

and use the information to open credit cards or get a mortgage in 

someone else’s name.

Fake “official” 

mail

Scammers send letters or e-mails that look like they are from a 

legitimate bank, business, or agency to try to get your personal 

information or bank account number.

Common consumer scams
22 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

The resources below are for Oregon. For 

information on other states, see the national 

version of this guide at www.consumerfinance.

gov/managing-someone-elses-money.

Local and state agencies

Adult Protective Services

Find the local agencies that receive and 

investigate reports of suspected elder or adult 

abuse, neglect, or exploitation by visiting the 

website of the Department of Human Services 

or by calling the statewide abuse reporting line. 

1-855-503-SAFE (1-855-503-7233)

http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/spwpd/pages/

offices.aspx

Aging and Disability Resources 

State and local agencies can provide 

information about aging and disability services 

and whether there are any support groups for 

fiduciaries or caregivers. Find these state and 

local agencies by contacting the Aging and 

Disability Resource Connection of Oregon. 

1-855-ORE-ADRC (1-855-673-2372)

www.ADRCofOregon.org

Attorney General

The office of the attorney general, called the 

Oregon Department of Justice, can take action 

against consumer fraud.

Consumer Hotline: 1-877-877-9392

www.doj.state.or.us

Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau can help consumers 

with complaints against businesses. 

www.alaskaoregonwesternwashington.bbb.org

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program 

Contact the Office of the Long-Term Care 

Ombudsman Program to find state and local 

long-term care advocates. Ombudsmen 

identify, investigate, and resolve complaints 

about long-term care. 

1-800-522-2602 (TTY users dial 711)

www.oregon.gov/LTCO

Mediators 

Find a listing of local mediators through the 

Oregon Mediation Association. Mediation can 

help resolve disputes and may sometimes be an 

alternative to legal action. 

www.omediate.org/

Medicaid/Medical Assistance 

The Medicaid program that provides low-cost 

or no-cost health care to qualified individuals 

is the Oregon Health Plan. Contact the Oregon 

Health Plan for more information.

1-800-527-5772

www.oregon.gov/OHA/healthplan

Where to go for help
HELP FOR TRUSTEES UNDER A REVOCABLE TRUST IN OREGON 23 

Medicaid also covers some in-home and longterm care services. Contact the Aging and 

Disability Resource Connection of Oregon for 

more information.

1-855-ORE-ADRC (1-855-673-2372)

www.ADRCofOregon.org

Medicaid Fraud Control Unit 

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in the office 

of the attorney general (called the Oregon 

Department of Justice), investigates and 

prosecutes abuse and fraud by health care 

providers.

www.doj.state.or.us/consumer/pages/

medicaid_fraud.aspx

Police or Sheriff 

Find a law enforcement agency by checking the 

local directory.

Federal agencies

Numerous federal agencies play a role in 

combating fraud and abuse and educating 

consumers. Contact them for more information.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

1-855-411-CFPB

www.consumerfinance.gov

Do Not Call Registry

1-888-382-1222 

www.donotcall.gov

Federal Bureau of Investigation 

www.fbi.gov/scams-safety

Federal Trade Commission

1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) 

www.consumer.ftc.gov

Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force

www.stopfraud.gov

Postal Inspection Service

1-877-876-2455 

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/

Social Security Administration

1-800-772-1213

www.socialsecurity.gov/payee

Department of Veterans Affairs

1-888-407-0144

www.benefits.va.gov/fiduciary

For legal help

Free legal services for people over age 60

Find local programs that provide free legal help 

to people over age 60 by contacting the Aging 

and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon. 

1-855-ORE-ADRC (1-855-673-2372)

www.ADRCofOregon.org

Free legal services for low-income people

Find local programs that provide free legal help 

to low-income people.

www.OregonLawHelp.org
24 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Free legal services for people with 

disabilities

The Oregon program that provides free legal 

help for people with disabilities is Disability 

Rights Oregon.

1-800-452-1694

TTY users, dial 711

www.disabilityrightsoregon.org

Fee-for-service lawyers

This is a web page sponsored by the American 

Bar Association. It provides information about 

how to find a lawyer in each state. It also has 

information about legal resources available in 

each state, how to check whether a lawyer is 

licensed, and what to do if you have problems 

with a lawyer.

www.findlegalhelp.org

The Oregon State Bar also provides information 

about how to find a lawyer through the state 

lawyer referral service or the state Modest 

Means Program to help moderate-income 

Oregonians. For information, contact:

1-503-684-3763 

or toll-free in Oregon 1-800-452-7636

www.osbar.org/public/ris

For accounting help

Accountants

Find a local certified public accountant on the 

website of the American Institute of CPAs. 

www.aicpa.org/ForThePublic/FindACPA/

Pages/FindACPA.aspx

The Oregon Board of Accountancy also 

provides information for consumers on 

choosing a CPA in Oregon, including 

disciplinary history. For information, visit:

www.oregon.gov/boa/Pages/ConsumerPage.

aspx

January 2016

 consumerfinance.gov

 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

1700 G Street NW

Washington, DC 20552

 Toll free: (855) 411-CFPB (2372) 

TTY/TDD : (855) 729-CFPB (2372)

 info@consumerfinance.gov