By: Cali Robins

When people think of abuse, they often think of physical or verbal abuse first. Financial abuse can seem invisible. In domestic situations, the control, restriction, and theft of money are all forms of financial abuse upon a partner. There are many methods that an abuser can use to control their victims’ lives and manipulate them through finances.

Make sure to look out for these signs of Financial Abuse:

·      Controlling household finances without letting their partner see the accounts
·      Not allowing their partner to work or sabotaging their career
·      Hiding money from their partner
·      Making their partner feel guilty for spending money

If you are looking to remove yourself or a victim from a financially abuse situation, it is important to consider the risk involved. If confronting your partner about their abuse could bring you harm, make sure to call the National Domestic Hotline at (800)-799-7233. If you are not concerned for your safety, it is important to begin looking for ways to protect yourself. Your best course of action is not to immediately confront your abuser; this could result in money being taken from any accounts your abuser has access to. Instead, try your best to find out more about the situation. Speak with bank staff where you know you have accounts and reach out to advocates, counselors, or trusted loved ones to educate yourself and take the next step forward.

If you suspect that someone you know is a victim of financial abuse, be gentle when asking them about the situation. Try not to criticize the abuser and instead calmly describe what you see happening by expressing your concern rather than being openly upset with the abuser. Reacting negatively can cause the victim to pull away from you and possibly rise to their abuser’s defense. Abusive tactics can result in direct dependency on the abuser, so using kindness above all else is important when confronting those affected by this type of abuse.

At Abuse Refuge Org, we focus on financial abuse as one of our seven abuse categories. Our work with victims helps them gain skills and gain counseling to begin a road towards recovery and happiness.