Caregiver Accused Of Stealing $270,000 From 91-Year-Old Elderly Woman
A 49 year old Burnaby resident is facing criminal charges after she allegedly withdrew close to $270,000 over a 1 year span from an unsuspecting victim’s bank account. On April 28, 2016 the Coquitlam RCMP Economic Crime Unit initiated an investigation after a 91 year-old Coquitlam woman realized the money was missing from her account.
With assistance from the bank, police were able to obtain surveillance images from local ATM activity and, with help from the victim, identified the alleged suspect as Antonette Dizon.
Over the last year, Antonette Dizon worked as a long time care giver for the victim and her husband.
On May 30th, 2016, the Economic Crime Unity conducted a search warrant on a residence in Burnaby and obtained evidence to support a charge of fraud over $5,000 against Antonette Dizon.
“This was a person in a position of trust who saw an opportunity to benefit financially and took full advantage of the very people she was hired to care for,” said Cst. Jamie Phillipson. “This is a form of elder abuse, plain and simple.”
Antonette Dizon was arrested and released on court ordered conditions, including restricted access to any elderly care home facility. Antonette Dizon is scheduled to make her next court appearance on June 27th at the Port Coquitlam Provincial Court House.
Tips and Safeguards for Elder Financial Abuse
- Protect yourself-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 any irregularities to your bank
Source: rcmp.gc.ca
