Your safety is our priority
If there is an immediate threat to your safety, please call the police on 000.
What is financial abuse?
Financial abuse is when someone you know and trust makes illegal or improper use of your finances or property. The abuse may not technically be an illegal act.
Financial abuse is a serious and far-reaching problem that can happen to anyone. Financial abuse occurs when someone takes away another person's access to money, manipulates another person's financial decisions, or uses another person's money without their consent. The abuser could be a partner, a family member, carer, guardian, friend or even a Power of Attorney.
This abuse can take many forms and often occurs over a period of time, rather than being a single event. It is sometimes combined with other forms of abuse and neglect.
Examples of financial abuse include someone:
- stealing, taking or borrowing your money, debit or credit cards or possessions without your consent
- limiting your access to your bank account or bank statements
- forging your signature, forcing you to sign a document, or misleading you about the contents of the documents you are signing
Financial abuse can also involve family members who:
- repeatedly pressure you for money, or borrow money but never repay it
- sell your home or other property and then use the money for their own benefit
Find out more about elder abuse.
Another example of financial abuse is someone using money and resources to gain power and control over a partner or family member.
Financial abuse can have devastating consequences for individuals, families, and communities. It can also have a major impact on a person's financial security and wellbeing.
You can also read the Australian Banking Association's guide to help older people avoid abuse, scams and fraud or you can visit Better Place Australia at www.betterplaceaustralia.com.au or call them on 1800 639 523.
Banking products used to perpetrate domestic violence and/or financial abuse
Our customers’ safety is important to us. HSBC will not tolerate our products, accounts and online banking services being used in a way that harms others or to perpetuate financial abuse. It's important to remember that silent abuse can occur in examples such as:
- someone restricting another person’s access to funds they are otherwise entitled to access, which in turn limits their independence or ability to escape an abusive situation
- forcing someone to take out a credit product which they won’t get any benefit for
- using money transfers to commit financial abuse such as making very small payments in order to deliver abusive, intimidating or coercive comments to a victim through the description or other text fields
If you feel that someone has used our products in this way, including if you have received a payment or payments with messages that you find abusive, threatening, intimidating or offensive in nature, even if the payment(s) were not from a customer of HSBC, please report this to us by emailing the Extra Care team at Ca.extra.care.team@hsbc.com.au or call +61 2 9762 9331. We can discuss the actions we can take to help you.
How we can help
If you are experiencing financial abuse, or are concerned you might be, we are committed to supporting you and providing the assistance you need.
You can contact our Extra Care team on +612 9762 9060 between 9am-5:30pm AEST Monday to Friday, or email us at ca.extra.care.team@hsbc.com.au to discuss your situation and what support we can provide.
Your conversations with us are confidential. If you are worried about this, please talk to the Extra Care team about how we can keep your conversations and information you share with us confidential.
What assistance do we provide?
Our Extra Care team will work with you to understand how we can help you to safely manage your banking needs.
If you have lending products and are experiencing financial hardship as a result of your situation, the Extra Care team may refer you to our Hardship team who can provide additional support.
The team may also refer you to other community support services, if appropriate.
Other support is available
If you are in an emergency or feel unsafe, please call the police on 000.