Couple 'grooming' lonely elderly people.

I agree with others who say report it to someone, because surely at the very least its obtaining by deception of some kind?If one has person bequeathed their home to them maybe fair enough, but for it to keep on happening is surely more than a 'coincidance' and should at least be investigated? And how do they even know they weren't 'helped on their way' at all? Stranger things have happened before.?

I would report to adult care services

I’m in agreement with you sodapop & MissA. Would people make such a fuss if a lonely elderly person left their entire estate to a cat charity? Unless there’s clear evidence to the contrary, it appears that this couple may have made the final years of a few elderly people very happy. So, they benefitted - so what. The owner of a care home benefits when an elderly person has to sell their home to pay for care!

I'm very surprised that this has been allowed to happen if the couple are 'employed' as wardens, surely there's guides in place to stop this type of financial abuse, have you heard of 'whistle blowing' I'd go online and report what you think is happening so it can be looked into fully

I became a mobile manicurist in my 50s and saw an awful lot of this sort of thing. If I had been of a criminal mind I could be a very rich woman now.

Most of my clients were very elderly women who lived alone. Some were extremely rich widows. One lady, when it came time to pay, told me to go into the front room where I would find a tin on the table with money in it. I brought it straight in to her and opened it in front of her only to find at least £1k in the tin !

I saw people being groomed by their cleaners, gardeners and other folk who worked for them. Possibly some of these folk went above and beyond and deserved a reward, but I wonder.

I would guess it is not coincidental at all.
The couple have seen a gap in the market for people who need care and help, and are exploiting it.
Again though, unless the people they help are unable to choose for themselves how to live their own lives, under their own terms, then no safeguarding issues are happening.
Unpalatable, yes, perhaps, but if I had nobody else to help me (which is a huge problem, as I am in that position currently) then I would happily leave someone my home in return for help and support.

Not sure from original post whether the couple are still wardens or not - not clear from wording of post. It says they ‘were wardens’.

Please please please report them - adult social care will have a safeguarding line. I worked in adult social care with older people and Thai sort of thing is often ignored. It's wrong. If it's innocent and the elderly people have capacity then fine. But please, report

If they were still wardens then that would put a different light on things - I'd report them like a shot!

I take it that they are now friends with the people they help.

There are threads talking about the huge problems care, finances, failing health and ageing cause.
Nobody to leave your house to?
Want to keep living there?
Pay a friend.

I think I would take action. Firstly discuss with Citizens Advice to see if anything can be done. People can become very vulnerable in their last years. My mother was very on the ball all her life, but she was conned by her carer in her final couple of years. Nothing major, but the carer claimed to be an artist and produced paintings which she then sold to Mum for large amounts. They were paint-by-numbers bought from Amazon costing nothing. She also sold Mum beautiful 'antiques' i.e. tat picked up from car boot sales. All the family lived at a distance, but when we found out what was going on there was quite a confrontation. Mum knew she was completely dependent on the carer and didnt want any change so she stoutly resisted our attempts to replace her even when we gently explained the con. Eventually we took it up with the agency who fired her, apparently she had a whole host of similar cons going on with elderly clients.

I'd be inclined to ask the police to take a look. They would be able to run background checks and see if there was any reason to be concerned. I'd be more interested in seeing when the will was written in relation to when the people died!

If these carers have already inherited 2 properties they do not need to work any longer. They can well afford to retire... And carry on befriending lonely elderlies.

I agree that English law seems to allow you to leave your entire property to whomsoever you will, but there is such a thing as undue influence.

A warden on an residential estate is presumably in a position of trust, and may well by the terms of his or her employment not be allowed to receive gifts from people living on the estate.

In you place I would take my worries to the employer of these wardens - I am unclear what the wardens' duties actually are.

If you make or change a will the solicitor drawing it up is obliged to ascertain that the testator understands fully what he or she is doing - this applies at any time of life, but most solicitors confronted with an elderly person who wishes to change their will, will be extremely cautious.

But of course, a will can be drawn up and later accepted for probate without a solicitor having been involved.

Everything may be above board, but it does not sound like it to me. In your place, I would broach my concern to whoever runs the estate, and if I got no joy there, go to social services.

Gifts of property
Any gift or transfer of real property (for example, land or a house) – either the whole property or a part share – is almost certainly outside of your powers as a deputy or attorney, despite what the person might have said when they had mental capacity. To make such a gift, you are likely to have to apply to the Court of Protection for permission.
You may choose to gift personal possessions or furniture of modest or sentimental value to family members – for example, when disposing of the contents of the person's house.
You shouldn't give items that are worth a lot, unless authorised by the Court of Protection.
I found this on .gov
So in no way of sound mind or not souls that gifting should not be happening you are in a position where you can take advantage or your position and if you are correct that is reportable

They are leaving properties in their wills, not making gifts - and they are the owners of the properties, not acting as attorneys.

Leaving in wills is gifting regardless and because their position makes it unethical and my understanding from working with elderly it is a breach of trust to accept large gifts in wills or otherwise

A couple who lived near me, and were disliked because of the callous way they had treated their adopted son, suddenly began helping the lady who owned a farm nearby. She was retired from farming, and becoming rather erratic, and a few neighbours helped her by doing her shopping, taking her to the hairdresser, etc. She only had second cousins, and had always said that her money was going to animal charities.
This couple gradually took over all her errands, edging out the other helpers. When the farm owner died, not long after, they inherited everything. Everyone wondered if there had been some persuasion, but no-one did anything.
The couple pulled down her farmhouse and built a posh house. The man didn't get much benefit, dying only a few years later, and leaving his wife living alone.
The land is in an ideal spot for planning permission to be granted for housing, so it's likely that their children will make an additional fortune when they inherit.

I read in the news, the other day, that a lady had started an 'adopt a grandparent' scheme to put people in touch with lonely pensioners. The idea was that they would start by writing or phoning the elderly person, and see how the relationship developed. She was amazed to receive over 2,000 applicants who wanted to 'adopt'.
Cynical old me couldn't help but wonder how many signed up thinking, "Old, lonely, probably no relations, possibly well-off.......hmmmm!"
Maybe I've just got a nasty mind!

BrightandBreezy

Awful that people working in a protective role might have targeted vulnerable people like this. There surely should be rules whereby people who work with the vulnerable are not allowed to benefit from the whole estates of those they care for. It used to be quite usual for people to leave a small bequest to people when it was felt they had done far more than could be reasonably expected but a whole estate??? I wouldn't think that would be usual without a bit of pressure. My dear old aunt, quite well off, left a small gift of £3000 for her 'dear friend and cleaner who had gone above and beyond in her care'. When my nephew turned up at her door with the cheque and a large bouquet she was absolutely overwhelmed. A truly genuine person who had no expectations whatsoever. I think that is the kind of thing which more often happens when there is no coercion involved.

The interesting phrase in the OP's post is that they WERE wardens .... Sheltered Housing Wardens aren't allowed to take gifts, there will be a policy about that - when I did it, anything worth over £25 had to be reported and a list of gifts given was always written down in a log ....

Far more lucrative to be an 'ex' warden obviously!

Report to safeguarding at Adult SS and the Police

A friend of ours is in this situation. The police tried to warn him that the man who had befriended him had been in prison for fraud but he wouldn’t listen. He’s lonely and glad of the attention. It’s very sad and he lives too far away for us to help. When we warn him he becomes aggressive.

Report to the Adult Safeguarding Team of the local council. This is financial abuse/coercive control. If you have concerns ‘Doing nothing is not an option’. If it turns out to be ok, that’s good, but it does need to be reported.

Report!!! Age UK, social services just anyone you can think of. Do your research into who may be able to help. That couple will be millionaires on the back of vulnerable people. Just awful.

I found this post quite alarming. Lots of posters have suggested reporting it to Council Services/Police/Citizens' Advice and that sounds very wise advice. These people may be entirely innocent but you and your DH have no real way of gauging that. Other services can do checks you cannot. From your post it would seem they have accumulated at least three properties plus other goods/money. If all is above board well and good - no harm done. If not, then other elderly will be safeguarded. My niece worked in the Council Offices overseeing and investigating this type of thing and it is done discreetly. At the very least it will put your mind at rest that you had initiated the checks.

Buffy

A friend of ours is in this situation. The police tried to warn him that the man who had befriended him had been in prison for fraud but he wouldn’t listen. He’s lonely and glad of the attention. It’s very sad and he lives too far away for us to help. When we warn him he becomes aggressive.

He has been groomed.

This happened with an elderly relative of mine. A middle aged woman who had actually been a family friend, persuaded him to change his will (several houses) and pay school fees for her nephew. I had previously been a major beneficiary in his will and was cut out completely.I didn't challenge it as I could not see any legal grounds, as far as could tell he was still of sound mind, although I suspected early Dementia from certain other signs in behaviour! But still nothing could be done. The main issue was the manipulation if he had left it the the local dogs home of his own free will I would have been happy but this!

Duress can take place very subtly over a period of time, with the person being influenced not realising what is happening.