Dementia a Factor in of Position-of-Trust Fraud Cases, Police Figures Reveal
New data released by the City of London Police shows that dementia was noted as a factor in 337 fraud reports involving abuse of a position of trust during 2025/26, underlining growing concerns about the financial exploitation of vulnerable older people across the UK.
According to the force, which leads national policing efforts on fraud, a total of £93.8 million was reported stolen through this category of offending over the year. Victims aged 70 and above accounted for more than £51 million of those losses, while people in their 80s were the group most frequently targeted and suffered the greatest financial harm overall, with losses approaching £24 million.
In total, 3,812 reports of fraud involving abuse of a position of trust were logged during the period. This offence covers situations where someone misuses a role of responsibility or authority — such as a family member, friend, paid carer, employee, or a person managing another individual’s financial affairs — to unlawfully access or take money, property or other assets belonging to the person they are meant to be supporting.
Powers of attorney a key concern
Officers highlighted particular unease around the misuse of powers of attorney, which featured in 764 reports and were linked to losses of £34.6 million. Reported cases included individuals allegedly using their legal authority to make withdrawals without permission or to take control of a victim’s finances for personal gain.
Investigators also noted a number of cases in which alleged financial abuse did not stop when the victim died, with some reports involving the improper handling of wills, estates and property after death.
Police response
Detective Superintendent Oliver Little of the City of London Police’s Lead Force Operations Room said the offences were especially damaging because they were carried out by individuals the victim had trusted to act in their interests. He pointed to the scale of losses among people aged 70 and over as evidence of how serious a threat this form of fraud presents to older and more vulnerable members of the public.
Det Supt Little said the force wants families, carers and anyone responsible for managing another person’s finances to be alert to the warning signs of this type of abuse and to come forward with concerns, so that those most at risk can be better protected.
Legal sector backing awareness campaign
The Law Society of England and Wales has thrown its support behind the City of London Police’s efforts to raise public awareness of abuse-of-position fraud. Its president, Mark Evans, said the harm caused by such offending goes well beyond financial loss, particularly given that it is often carried out by someone the victim trusted.
Mr Evans said the Society was pleased to back the campaign and urged the public to remain alert to warning signs and to act promptly if something did not seem right, adding that shared awareness and vigilance would help protect communities from this type of abuse.
