“I. Am. Livid”: Compassionate Call From Solicitors Reveals Sister’s Ploy To Steal Thousands

Family and money are two things that can make life either incredibly fulfilling or deeply complicated. And when the two are at odds, it creates an explosive mix.

A troubled relationship had kept this Redditor and her sister apart for nearly ten years. But tensions flared recently, going from bad to worse when she found out her sibling had tried to take tens of thousands of pounds from her mental health trust fund. A shocking display of audacity, to say the least. Now, she’s grappling with the fallout and deciding what steps to take next.

The woman’s relationship with her sister had been troubled for years, leading to a decade of no contact

Woman in glasses sitting at a desk, looking upset over trust fund issues.

Image credits: MART PRODUCTION/Pexels (not the actual photo)

But recently, it went from bad to worse when she learned her sibling had tried to take thousands of pounds from her

Text discussing a sister's deceit to access a trust fund, with a person expressing frustration about the situation.

Text about a woman's complex family background and moving from the US to the UK as a child.

Text revealing trust fund set up for mental health, covering therapy and rehab due to trauma and addiction issues.

Text about sisters, family issues, and deception involving rehab and trust fund.

Text detailing a woman's discovery about her sister faking rehab to access her trust fund.

Woman looking shocked, holding a phone and paper, related to trust fund distress.

Image credits: Mikhail Nilov/Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text discussing a woman upset about her sister stealing from her trust fund, describing feelings of betrayal.

Text expressing frustration over a sister faking rehab to steal trust fund, causing family drama.

Text describing a father's financial assistance, mentioning solicitors and a trust fund.

Text describes sister's frequent visits to parents, suspects she found trust fund details in dad’s office.

Text discussing handling overwhelming tasks while staying composed.

Text discussing solicitors managing reports related to trust fund transactions and investigating potential issues.

Text expressing gratitude for reassurance while asking for less speculation about her life and parents' role.

Image credits: Reasonable-Cat5767

Nearly 1 in 7 siblings fight about money

While siblings are known to fight about almost anything, arguments about money, as it turns out, are surprisingly rare. A 2017 report by Ameriprise Financial revealed that only 15 percent—or roughly 1 in 7—have financial disagreements. Most handle the topic without much drama, which might come as a relief to many families.

“The majority of siblings, about two-thirds, say they are talking about money,” Marcy Keckler, vice president of financial advice strategy for Ameriprise Financial, told CNBC. “They’re having conversations about money, and they’re going pretty smoothly.”

The downside is that when siblings do argue about money, parents are often caught in the middle. According to the report, 68% of these disputes involve them in some way. Common issues include disagreements over how parents distribute financial support to their adult children, how inheritance is divided after they pass, and differences in the level of care or financial help siblings provide to aging parents.

“There’s definitely a push-pull when it comes to this topic,” said Becky Krieger, a certified financial planner and senior director for wealth management teams at Accredited Investors Wealth Management at the time of the report, now a managing partner, in an interview with CNBC.

“I don’t think the parents want any conflict to surface regarding inequality,” she added. “But there are a lot of people who don’t want to talk about these subjects, either.”

Avoiding conversations about money might actually be at the root of the problem. A 2023 study from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, which surveyed nearly 500 people who were married or in serious commitments, found that addressing financial issues (as long as they’re small) can strengthen relationships.

“Married couples that were discussing, even in disagreement, mundane everyday expenses and spending reported more positive relationship outcomes,” noted the authors of the study Johanna Peetz, Zoe Meloff, and Courtney Royle.

Of course, finding out a family member secretly tried to steal from you is hardly a “small disagreement.” That’s a major breach of trust and far from healthy. But the takeaway here is clear: when it comes to family finances, it’s better to have open, honest conversations—even if they lead to minor squabbles—than to let resentment or secrecy fester.

Hearing her story, readers urged the woman to report the incident to the police

Comments discussing a woman discovering her sister's fake rehab to steal her trust fund.

Reddit comments about a sister faking rehab, discussing attempted theft from a trust fund.

Text messages on a forum discussing a sister faking rehab to steal a trust fund, with advice on how to handle the situation.

Text message discussing sister stealing from trust fund.

Reddit comments advising to file a police report for trust fund theft.

Reddit comment discussing filing a police report, related to trust fund theft.

Reddit users discuss trust fund theft, rehab faking, and financial safeguards.

Reddit comments discussing a sister's deception involving trust fund theft.

Reddit exchange about family drama versus a depleted trust fund.

Reddit conversation about adoption and family decisions.

Online comment advising to contact police about sister faking rehab to access trust fund.

Reddit comment discussing fraud, advising legal action and data protection to secure trust funds.

User comment from HistoricalMoment4041 discussing a first attempt related to a trust fund issue.

Comment discussing a sister's betrayal involving a trust fund and fake rehab stay.

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