LPAs OnlinePart of Estate Advisory Group

LPAs and protecting someone from scams

Guidance from Estate Advisory Group

Written and legally reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner·Last reviewed 13 August 2026

Financial abuse of older people usually happens through their own accounts. An attorney can put the brakes on.

What an attorney can arrange

  • Banking alerts and transaction limits on the donor's accounts.
  • Moving surplus funds to an account without a debit card.
  • Registering with the Telephone Preference Service and mail preference schemes.
  • Cancelling recurring payments to doorstep or cold-call traders.
  • Reviewing statements monthly for unfamiliar payees.

Where the line sits

Capacity still comes first

While the donor has capacity, they are entitled to spend their own money — including unwisely. Attorneys can advise and protect, not overrule.

Once the donor lacks capacity for financial decisions, the attorney decides in their best interests, still involving them as far as possible.

If abuse is already happening

  1. Report to the bank's vulnerable-customer team immediately.
  2. Report the fraud to Action Fraud.
  3. Raise a safeguarding referral with the local authority.
  4. If another attorney is the problem, report it to the OPG — see financial abuse by an attorney.

Common questions

Can an attorney block the donor's card?

Only where the donor lacks capacity for that decision and it is in their best interests. Document the reasoning.

Does an LPA stop a family member taking money?

It creates an accountable person with duties and a paper trail, which is the strongest practical deterrent available short of court involvement.

Read next

Where this fits

This page is part of Parents, couples and capacity. The pages below take it further.

Review and sources

Reviewed by Ramani Gill TEP, Solicitor and private client practitioner. Last reviewed 13 August 2026. We recheck fees, forms and Office of the Public Guardian guidance whenever they change — see our editorial policy.

Official sources

Helping a parent or partner?

They make the decisions and sign, you can do all the paperwork. Start with the free capacity check.

Check if an LPA is still possible

The Office of the Public Guardian charges a separate £92 to register each LPA.

This is general information about how Lasting Powers of Attorney work in England and Wales. It is not legal advice about your situation. What we do and do not do.

Published by Estate Advisory Group