Family member has absconded with all grandparent's financial information and is now running up debt. What to do?

Dear willpower, it seems that sooner than later you will need a lawyer. Because you are talking here of someone that changed passwords in order to have access to bank accounts, etc. Sadly to say but close family members are the one who steals from their elders. It will be a tedious task but for your grandparents well being, do it pronto.

I'm pretty sure that what your brother is doing is straight up illegal.
Call your local police precinct and explain what's going on. A visit from law enforcement might solve this very quickly.
There's also probably a local agency that enforces elder abuse situations. Get on the phone with them immediately.
And then disown your brother until such a time that he becomes a decent human being. That might be never.
Good luck!

File a police report, this sounds like theft by deception, and illegal. Also. hire an attorney, you will need one. Sometimes family members are worse then strangers. Who has their power of health and financial attorney ? Whoever does has power of attorney is in charge legally if they are unable to make decisions. I was my sister in laws power of attorney. and I had all the legal process power. But you have to have it in black and white signed by an attorney and witnessed to be legal. Also, call your states elder abuse hotline, theft is considered a form of abuse. Good luck guys. Also, I would doubt very much if he shows up for any meetings, he is just jerking you guys around.

Handle it as you would with any common criminal. File police reports. Hire a lawyer to protect the family's rights.

Send, I know the FBI does address some fraud.   From a poster on another forum, I learned that one of those out of country scammers who creates the scenario of needing someone to hold money is a fraud the FBI addresses.

I know b/c of the article in which an FBI agent shared how he brought his colleagues in on the phone call when the scammer was to provide arrangements to send money.   And they nailed him.

But I don't know the foundation for jurisdiction, i.e., national, or international or both.

1.   I would definitely contact ALL your grandparents' creditors, banks and advise them that there have been some difficulties paying their bills (something to that effect), but DON'T mention your brother.   You don't want them to immediately think "another family squabble."  

2.    Think about this carefully, as I have some doubts, but you might also contact the ISP of the e-mail account and advise that there has been an unauthorized change of password and you are no longer able to access the account.

Success might turn on who actually created that account and pays the bills for it.   If you're paying jointly, your brother presumably wouldn't under the T & C for the account have authority to prevent your access.    If it's his account, you're kind of out of luck on that issue.

3.    Have your grandparents executed any powers of attorney authorizing either of you to make payments?   Or are you making them primarily b/c you're the grandchildren?  I ask b/c of who has legal access to their accounts, i.e., the bank accounts.

That also raises the issue of how the bank accounts are titled: i.e., Grandpa and Grandma, Granddaughter and Grandson, as joint tenants, or your grandparents' names solely?

4.    You might consider sending a cease and desist notice to brother, advising that unless he complies with (a - z and list them), you may be forced to take action against.  Do not specify what action - leave that vague so you're not limited if you have to seek legal help.

5.    I think that depending on the answers to the questions above, you might consider asking the local court to grant an injunction preventing your brother from (a) barring your access to the accounts (b) using any of the funds for his own use  (c) refusal to abide by the terms of the agreements you've worked (problem with this is that they're probably oral, not written agreements).  

Add in something to the effect of preventing your grandparents' funds from being inappropriately used and/or depleted, linking this to an anticipation of financial abuse.

6.    Call the state elder abuse hotline and ask what they can suggest to address financial abuse of elders. 

Unfortunately, so many governmental levels are either operating from home or shut down now, so you may trouble getting advice and/or support.

7.   You raised the issue of "fraud".   Do you have specific documentation?  

8.    I definitely would put fraud alerts on your grandparents' accounts, and on yours, just as a matter of safety.

9.   How exactly are your younger brothers getting support from your grandparents, and/or has this become part of the one brother's fraudulent activities? 


All in all, I think notifying creditors, creating fraud alerts and/or credit freeze, asking for a moratorium on bills, and notifying the banks to put holds on the accounts are the top priorities.

Also, I wouldn't rely too much on getting together next week; if your brother is as sneaky as he appears to be, he could very well find an excuse at "the last minute" not to meet.    He might be just "jerking you around". 
  
And you've already observed that he's not reliable.    Move forward on your own plans and path.

Do what you said.
Make that police report too. Get the report number.

DO NOT BE KIND OR GENTLE OR POLITE as you go about reporting your brother.

Put everything in writing to the bank especially.

Does anyone know if the banking fraud can be brought to the attention of the FBI?

You also need to act quickly because if they need to apply for public assistance for help with a nursing home, like Medicaid, the money spent on the grandchildren will be considered gifting and your grandparents won’t be eligible for help until after a penalty period.

Also, please ask yourself if their credit score matters anymore.

Don’t wait a week. Do it now.

Call the police and report the crime.

Call the 3 major credit bureaus and freeze their credt. Call their banks and cancel their cards.

Do this all now.

Do your parents have a lawyer that has been involved with anything? That might be a place to start.
The Police would be a great place to begin as well, maybe make that your first call so you have a police report and a case number. The police may refer the case to the States Attorney when/if this goes to trial.
I am sure others on the forum have has dealings just like this and they can let you know how to proceed and how it was handled.
Also contact the bank and any bills that were being paid and may be late due to this. You will most likely need the police report for the bank as well.