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She lives on the opposite coast, and we haven't spoken in over 6 years. It seems a "friend" has been taking advantage of her financially, convinced her to sell her house (my name was on the deed so I'm not sure how they accomplished this), and give them the money as a gift. Their agreement was for my mom to stay with them in their house, paying $500/ month rent, on top of the large gift. The "friend" has now kicked her out. A social worker from the hospital she is now in reached out to me and my brother, as her "friend" provided a POA with our names listed signed by mom 8 years ago. We're trying to get her in assisted living now. We know she collects social security, but do not know what bank her money was being deposited to, or if she has other open accounts. We want to make sure the "friend" has no more access to her finances. My mom has a history of mental illness, her "friend" said she was diagnosed with dementia, and had some report, but I have not been able to get that from anyone. The hospital is currently holding her under observation, and treating her for a UTI, saying she has extreme confusion. She has not been forthcoming with any helpful information. Long story, short question, how can I find her open accounts?

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I forgot to suggest before...ask for tax return since interest has to be reported..& will be listed on schedule B . You can go in person to IRS office with your poa. Also her SS income on there. Hugs 🤗
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Have this “friend “ who is a very savvy criminal, arrested immediately! Get a lawyer and get the house back...which if your name on deed, should not have been “sold”! The deed should have been seen & required by Real Estate Lawyer in order for house to be “sold”. I don’t believe it was sold because it was a fraud & scam. She is a squatter and then took advantage of your mother’s condition. Don’t quit until this is fixed & “friend “ is in jail
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worriedinCali Jan 2019
You can’t just have someone arrested immediately. Also Mom has dementia and the things she is saying cannot be taken are face value and considered to be true.
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Hettie, as we say, time to have boots on the ground to see what exactly is going on.

This whole situation is very confusing. An incapacitated person wouldn't been able to think of faking a heart attack. So, something else is going on. Time to make a trip to visit your Mom.
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Hettie, if your Mom is dealing with dementia, there comes a time when story telling is the norm.

Curious who is passing to you information that a friend had been taking advantage of your Mom? That Mom's house was sold? Yet, this very same friend provided to the Social Worker a signed Power of Attorney which had your name and your brother's name. And it sounded like the friend had taken your Mom to the hospital.

Before any finger pointing to the friend, check with the County or City real estate department to see, if for fact, that the house had been sold. For all you know, your Mom could have been incorrect due to her dementia, and the house is still in her and your names.
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Hettie Jan 2019
Per the social worker, my mom faked a heart attack to get away from her friend, and that's how she got to the hospital.

Her friend is the one saying the house was sold, and you're absolutely correct that she may have been lying about that. The friend was trying to get me to sign off on the deed, to allow my mom to sell. Thanks for the suggestion of where to check if the house was sold.

The hospital had initially tired to discharge my mom back to the friend, but the friend then stated my mom was not welcome back, and I think at that point the POA appeared.

As of right now my mom's story has been "I don't know".
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Yes, I would go after the friend when all is said and done. First, if Mom was incompetent at time of the sale. Title search should have shown you were part owner so surprised the sale went thru. Some fraud on that end too. And if she was incompetent you had POA meaning you had some say there. How many banks where Mom lives? My town has 3. Can't you call around? All ur asking is if there is a bank account with them.

See how Mom is once the UTI is cleared up. They really can do a number on people. After the infection clears up, have her evaluated for Dementia. Since Mom seems to have no money, are you going to pay the 5k plus for an AL? You may want to find a good NH and apply for Medicaid.
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Hettie Jan 2019
AL was suggested by the social worker, and is our short term solution, to get her away from the friend, recover from UTI, and reevaluate.

Now trying to make sure the friend isn't continuing to have access to other accounts/credit cards, loans, etc. We have received the some info on the account where the SS check is deposited, thanks to APS.
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When you have a copy of the POA in hand, you could after the gov't shutdown, contact Social Security. They will have a record of the account they deposit her funds into.

As far as the house goes, you will need to get a copy of the sales contract, then you could proceed with charges for forging your signature and stealing your share of the home.

There used to be, pre internet, companies that would do a search for open, but abandoned bank accounts. I am sure such services still exist. Perhaps Equifax or Transunion could help?
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