Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau

MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Help for agents under a 

power of attorney 

in Oregon

HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY 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 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 AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 3 

What’s inside

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

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

What is a fiduciary? 6

Power of attorney questions and answers 6

Four basic duties of a fiduciary ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8

Duty 1 | Act only in Martina’s best interest 8

Duty 2 | Manage Martina’s money and property carefully 10

Duty 3 | Keep Martina’s money and 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 14

How can you avoid problems with family or friends? 15

What should you know about working with professionals? 15

Watch out for financial exploitation �����������������������������������������������������������������������������16

Look for these common signs of financial exploitation 16

What can you do if Martina has been exploited? 17

Be on guard for consumer scams ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������18

How can you protect Martina from scams? 18

What can you do if Martina has been scammed? 19

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 AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 5 

Why read this guide? 

Like many people, you may never have been an agent under a power of attorney 

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

under a power of attorney in Oregon. This guide will help you understand what you 

can and cannot do in your role as an agent. 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 an agent, 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 power of attorney, this guide is not designed 

for you. Talk to a lawyer or read about powers of attorney on the website of the 

Oregon State Bar, www.osbar.org (click on “Public Home,” then “Legal Information 

Topics,” and then “Wills, Trusts, and Elder Law”).

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

become an agent under a power of attorney

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, let’s call her Martina. Martina has signed a legal 

document called a power of attorney. In it, she names you as her agent and 

gives you the power to make decisions about money and property for her. 

The law gives you a lot of responsibility as Martina’s agent under a power 

of attorney. 

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 

Martina’s money and property for her 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 Martina, you have four basic duties that 

you must keep in mind:

1. Act only in Martina’s best interest.

2. Manage Martina’s money and property carefully.

3. Keep Martina’s money and 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 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!

Power of attorney questions and answers 

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document. Martina made a power 

of attorney to give you legal authority to make decisions about 

her money or property so that you can make decisions for her if 

she is sick or injured. 

Under a power of attorney, Martina is called the principal. 

You are called the agent. Another name for agent is attorney-in-fact.

Martina could also make a power of attorney for health care, which 

is called an advance directive in Oregon, if she names someone to 

make decisions about her health care. (We don’t discuss advance 

directives in this guide, but if you want more information about that, 

go to http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/1120_livingwill.htm.)

Different types of 

fiduciaries exist

In your role as agent, you 

may act as or deal with 

other types of fiduciaries.

These may include: 

Trustees under a revocable 

trust (sometimes called 

a living trust)—someone 

names them to manage 

money and property.

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 AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 7 

Don’t expect others to 

know what an agent is 

or does. 

They may not understand 

that you have been named 

as an agent. 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.

Can Martina still manage her money and property 

after signing a power of attorney?

Yes, as long as she is still able to make decisions. 

Can a power of attorney be changed or revoked?

Martina can take away (or revoke) your authority to act as 

her agent at any time if she wants to and is still able to make 

decisions. If she does take away your authority as her agent, 

you must stop making decisions for her. Martina should tell any 

people or businesses you were dealing with about her decision 

to take away your authority. 

What if you think the change was the result of fraud 

or abuse?

If you think Martina does not understand the decision she made 

to remove your authority and is being abused or exploited by 

someone else, talk to a trusted family member; a lawyer; or an 

official from adult protective services, the police, or the sheriff.

When do your responsibilities end?

If Martina revokes your authority, your responsibilities end. In 

addition, your authority to act as Martina’s agent ends when she 

dies. Promptly notify her bank or other businesses with which 

you interacted as her agent. Even if you can easily pay some of 

her outstanding bills, you will no longer have the authority to 

do so. If you are married to Martina and then get divorced, your 

authority to act as her agent continues unless the power of 

attorney document or a judge says your authority should end. 

If a court names a conservator to act for her, your authority as 

agent continues.

What happens if you can no longer serve as agent?

If you are not able to act as Martina’s agent and she cannot name 

someone else to act for her, tell a trusted family member or a 

government agency such as adult protective services. If you cannot 

act as her fiduciary, she will need someone else to help her.
8 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Four basic duties of a fiduciary 

Duty 1 | Act only in Martina’s best interest

Because you are dealing with Martina’s money and property, your duty is to make 

decisions that are best for her. This means you must ignore your own interests and 

needs, or the interests and needs of other people. 

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

§ Read the power of attorney and do what it says. Your authority is strictly limited 

to what the document and Oregon law allow. Follow Martina’s directions in the 

document, even if you have the best intentions in doing something different. 

§ Understand when the power of attorney becomes effective. It is effective right 

away unless the document says that you should not act until Martina can no 

longer make her own decisions or until some event has happened. Check to see 

if the document says how you will know when Martina can no longer make her 

own decisions. If the document does not provide that information, Oregon law 

says that Martina will be considered to be incapable of making decisions if a 

physician determines that she is incapable and indicates that in writing.

§ As much as possible, involve Martina in decisions. Many things can affect your 

decisions about Martina’s money and property. For example, you might feel 

pressure from others. Martina’s abilities to make decisions might change from 

time to time.

Even after it is clear that you must make decisions for Martina, ask her what 

she wants if she can communicate. If she can’t say what she wants, try to find 

out what she would have wanted. Look at any past decisions, actions, and 

statements. Ask people who care about Martina what they think she would have 

wanted. Make the decisions you think Martina would have wanted, unless doing 

so would harm her. Put her well-being above saving money for others who may 

inherit her money and property. Make sure she is safe and comfortable, and her 

needs are met. 
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 9 

§ Avoid conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest happens 

if you make a decision about Martina’s property that may 

benefit someone else at Martina’s expense. As a fiduciary, you 

have a strict duty to avoid conflicts of interest—or even the 

appearance of a conflict of interest. 

§ Don’t borrow, loan, or give Martina’s money to yourself or 

others. You are not allowed to make gifts to yourself (selfdeal) unless the power of attorney says that you can. Check 

the document to see whether Martina gave you the power to 

make gifts. Even if the power of attorney clearly allows gifts 

to you or others, be very careful to avoid conflicts of interest. 

Make sure that any gifts do not increase or complicate 

Martina’s taxes or change her plans to give away her property 

when she dies. Any gifts or loans should be in line with what 

Martina would have wanted. For example, if Martina gave 

money every year to a charity, the power of attorney may 

allow you to continue doing that. 

§ Avoid changing Martina’s plans for giving away her money 

or property when she dies. There may be rare situations in 

which changing Martina’s plans would be in her best interest. 

But you should get legal advice to make sure that the power of 

attorney allows that.

§ Don’t pay yourself for the time you spend acting as Martina’s 

agent, unless the power of attorney allows it. If you are 

allowed to pay yourself, you need to show that your fee is 

reasonable. To show that your compensation is reasonable, 

you must carefully document how much time you spend, what 

you do, and what you are charging. Look for information about 

what other people charge to do the tasks that you are doing 

for Martina. For example, the court in your area may have 

guidelines on what it pays conservators to do similar tasks, 

or the Aging and Disability Resource Connection may have 

helpful information.

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:

Whose car is it?

You used Martina’s money 

to buy a car. You use it to 

drive her to appointments, 

but most of the time you 

drive the car just for your 

own needs. This may be a 

conflict of interest. 

Should you do business 

with family? 

Martina needs repair work 

in her apartment. You 

hire your son and pay him 

from Martina’s money. 

This may be a conflict 

of interest, even though 

the work was needed. It 

appears that you have put 

your personal interest to 

benefit your son in conflict 

with Martina’s interests.
10 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Duty 2 | Manage Martina’s money and property carefully

As Martina’s agent, 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 power of attorney. 

You have a duty to manage Martina’s money and property very carefully. Use good 

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

Martina’s money than you might be with your own! 

Follow these guidelines to help you make careful decisions:

§ List Martina’s money, property, and debts. To make careful decisions, you need 

to know what Martina owns and owes. Your list might include:

ú Checking and savings accounts;

ú Cash;

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

ú Real estate;

ú Cars and other vehicles;

ú Insurance policies;

ú Trusts for which Martina is a beneficiary;

ú Stocks and bonds; 

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

ú Unpaid credit card bills and other outstanding loans.

§ Protect Martina’s property. Keep her 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 Martina owns any real estate, keep it in good condition. 

§ Invest carefully. If you are making investment decisions for Martina, talk to a financial 

professional. 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 Martina’s needs and values. 

§ Pay bills and taxes on time. 

§ Cancel any insurance policies that Martina does not need. 
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 11 

§ Collect debts. Find out if anyone owes Martina money, and try to collect it.

§ Take steps to have the power of attorney accepted. Sometimes banks or other 

businesses won’t do what you, acting as Martina’s agent, want them to do. 

A bank may refuse to accept the power of attorney and want Martina to sign 

its own form. This is a problem if Martina has lost the ability to act for herself. 

As soon as you need to act as Martina’s agent, contact any businesses (such 

as banks) or people that she deals with and give them copies of the power of 

attorney. Never give away the original document. You can get certified true 

copies of the original document. If someone will not accept your authority as 

agent, talk to a supervisor. If they still won’t accept it, talk to a lawyer. Oregon 

law says that a business or person may not refuse to accept your authority as 

agent only because time has passed since Martina signed the power of attorney.

Can Martina get any benefits? 

Find out if Martina 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 Martina 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 

Martina’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.
12 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Duty 3 | Keep Martina’s money and property separate 

Never mix Martina’s money or property 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 Martina’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 Martina’s money or property into your 

own or someone else’s bank account or investment account. 

§ Avoid joint accounts. If Martina already has money or property in a joint account 

with you or someone else, get legal advice before making any change. 

§ Keep title to Martina’s money and property in her own name. This is so other 

people can see right away that the money and property is Martina’s and not yours. 

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

Martina’s money or property to show that you are Martina’s agent. For example, 

you might sign “Juan Doe, as agent for Martina Roe.” Never just sign “Martina Roe.”

§ Pay Martina’s expenses from her 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.
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 13 

Duty 4 | Keep good records

You must keep true and complete records of Martina’s money and property. The 

power of attorney may say that someone else can review your records to check up 

on you. Practice good recordkeeping habits:

§ Keep a detailed list of everything that you receive or spend for Martina. 

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 Martina’s expenses with cash. Also, try not 

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

use cash, be sure to keep receipts or notes. 

§ Getting paid? The power of attorney may say that you can be paid for acting as 

agent. If you will be paid, be sure you charge a reasonable fee. It is up to you to 

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-agents

Martina may have named one or more co-agents to act with you. The power of 

attorney document may say whether you and any co-agents can make decisions 

alone or must agree on decisions, either unanimously or by majority rule. 

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

decisions. Even if you and a co-agent don’t have to agree on all decisions, you 

cannot let a co-agent do something that harms Martina. You are still responsible for 

her and must act in her best interest. 

Successor agents

Martina may have named a successor agent to act for her if you are not able to be 

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

as Martina’s agent.

Other types of fiduciaries

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

she may have a conservator, 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.

Government benefits require special fiduciaries

As agent, you cannot manage Martina’s government benefits such as Social 

Security or VA benefits unless you get a separate appointment from the 

government agency as, for example, a representative payee or VA fiduciary. For 

more information, contact the government agency.
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 15 

How can you avoid problems with family or friends?

Family or friends may not agree with your decisions about Martina’s money and 

property. To help reduce any friction, follow the four duties described above and 

the guidelines we’ve given you. 

Oregon law does not say anything about whether you can share any accountings 

you prepare or summaries of how you’ve spent Martina’s money. If Martina gave 

you instructions about sharing information in the power of attorney, you should 

follow her wishes.

If family or friends question or disagree with your decisions, get advice from a 

lawyer about sharing information and finding other ways of trying to sort out 

problems, such as talking with 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 Martina’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 Martina’s money.

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. 
16 MANAGING SOMEONE ELSE’S MONEY 

Watch out for financial exploitation 

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

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

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

things she has paid them to do. These may be examples of financial exploitation or 

financial abuse. As Martina’s agent, you should help protect her. You should know 

the signs of financial exploitation for five important reasons: 

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

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

3. Martina 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 Martina’s agent; 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 Martina.

Look for these common signs of financial exploitation

§ You think that some money or property is missing. 

§ Martina says that some money or property is missing.

§ You notice sudden changes in Martina’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; 

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; 
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 17 

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.

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

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

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

controlling her decisions.

What can you do if Martina has been exploited?

§ Call the emergency 911 number if Martina 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 Martina has been or will be the victim of a crime, call 

the police or sheriff. 

§ Alert Martina’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 Martina is in a nursing home 

or assisted living. 

§ Consider talking to a lawyer about protecting Martina 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 

Be on guard for consumer scams 

As Martina’s agent, 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 Martina—and against you 

as her agent. 

How can you protect Martina from scams?

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

internet. They can occur in person, at home, or at a business. Here are some tips: 

§ Help Martina 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 Martina’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. 
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 19 

§ Watch for signs Martina 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

What can you do if Martina 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 

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
HELP FOR AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY IN OREGON 21 
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 AGENTS UNDER A POWER OF ATTORNEY 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

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