Financial abuse is where someone else has taken control of your money without your knowledge or consent, or where you can no longer trust them.
People are more vulnerable to financial abuse when they depend on family or carers for help with spending or managing their money.
Financial abuse happens when someone else:
uses your money without your knowledge or permission;
promises care or services in exchange for money or property;
threatens to withdraw care or services unless you give them money or property;
makes decisions about how to spend your money without asking you; or
gets you to sign documents you do not understand such as a deed, a power of attorney or a will.
You can ask us for help
You can ask us for help if you are worried that someone else has control over your money without your permission.
Our people are trained to recognise situations like financial abuse. Even if you are in a branch accompanied by someone who you no longer trust, we may be able to recognise the situation.
Telling any of us that you are concerned may mean we can take action to safeguard your money. The most important thing is that you talk to someone.
Worried someone else is being financially abused?
If you are concerned that a family member or friend has lost control of their money to someone they don’t trust, please let us know. The best place to start is to contact us at the customer’s local branch, where we can talk in private.
Worried about fraud?
Fraud is a crime. It’s where someone gets money or property from someone else by deceiving them. Fraudsters use isolation, fear, and confusion. They may make you feel that you do not have a say, but you should never feel like you can’t have a say when it comes to money.
If you think you have been a victim of fraud or have noticed any unusual activity on your account, you should contact us immediately. You can take steps to protect yourself from fraud by:
- Staying in control. Take your time. If you are rushed, you may make a decision you will regret.
- Being alert to unexpected or unsolicited emails, telephone calls or texts. Take your time to check that the person is who they say they are.
- Never giving anyone details such as your full banking passwords, PIN, codes or login details.
We will never ask customers for their Personal Access Code (PAC) for mobile or phone banking through email or links in an email. We will never ask for codes from the code card or card reader, or debit and credit card details through email or links in an email.
Taking Steps to Safeguarding your Money
The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) have a useful guide that provides advice on safeguarding your money and protecting yourself from financial abuse available here.
Domestic Abuse
Financial abuse can take many forms and can take place in relationships where one partner takes advantage of another. AIB have partnered with Women’s Aid to raise awareness of this issue. Women's Aid is the national organisation providing support and information to women experiencing domestic violence through its Direct Services. It runs the only free, national, domestic violence 24hr helpline (1800 341 900, 24 hours, 7 days) with specialised trained staff and volunteers, accredited by the Helplines Partnership and with a Telephone Interpretation Service covering 170 languages for callers needing interpreting services as well as a Text Service for Deaf and Hard of Hearing women. Women's Aid also offers a Dublin-based One to One Support Service and Court Accompaniment
Ways to get in touch
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