A Burnaby woman is facing criminal charges after allegedly stealing nearly $270,000 from a 91-year-old Coquitlam woman's bank account over a one-year period.
According to a Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson, a family member looking into the elderly woman's finances noticed there was a significant sum missing from the account and immediately froze the bank card.
"It's our understanding the suspect was taking regular withdrawals from the account, upwards to $1,000 each time spanning close to a year," said Const. Jamie Phillipson.
Coquitlam RCMP's Economic Crime Unit started an investigation in late April. Investigators used surveillance images from local ATM activity and, with the victim's help, identified the alleged suspect, a 49-year-old woman who had been a longtime caregiver for the victim and her husband.
Phillipson said the family had not suspected the caregiver, who was hired through a private agency about 18 months earlier, until they were shown the surveillance images.
"I don't think the victim wanted to believe that person was capable of doing this," he said. "Obviously, they had formed a relationship… strongly based on trust, and that trust was clearly broken.
"This is a form of elder abuse, plain and simple."
Phillipson said the family will likely need to pursue civil proceedings if they want to recoup any of the money.
"As far as [the criminal system] goes, there's really no recourse to get that money back unless a significant amount was seized in cash."
On May 30, the Economic Crime Unit conducted a search on the suspect's Burnaby home and obtained enough evidence to support a charge of fraud over $5,000, he said.
Antonette Dizon, 49, was arrested and released on court-ordered conditions, including restricted access to any elderly care home facility. Her next appearance at B.C. Provincial Court in Port Coquitlam is on June 27.
The police also offered tips on protecting seniors against elder financial abuse, including:
• Keep your financial and personal information in a safe place.
• Have an enduring or continuing power of attorney prepared appointing someone you trust to look after you so that even if you are ill and unable to look after yourself, your finances will be protected from others who might try to take advantage.
• Ask for help if you think you are experiencing financial abuse.
• Keep a record of money you give away and note whether it’s a loan or a gift.
• For major decisions involving your home or other property, get your own legal advice before signing documents.
• Ask someone you trust to look over contracts and other papers before you sign them.
• Be very cautious if you open a joint bank account; the other person can take all of the money without asking.
• Make an effort to keep in touch with a variety of friends and family so you don’t become isolated.
• Review your finances on a regular basis and report and irregularities to your bank.
[email protected]
@spayneTC
