Daughter of scammed senior warns kids of aging parents

Elderly man bilked out of $7,000 by women who told him sob stories and then drove him to a bank

After her 90-year-old father was bilked out of $7,000 by Penticton con artists, a woman is urging other children of aging parents to keep an eye on their loved ones’ finances.

Wilma Geurts said her father withdrew the money — about a third of his life-savings — from his bank during three separate visits in May, ostensibly to help women in need.

“My dad has never done this before. It’s totally out of character,” said Geurts, who asked that her father’s name not be published in order to protect his safety.

She did, however, wish to alert others to the scam to which her dad, a retired handyman, fell prey.

From what she’s been able to glean from him, two women, whom he met outside the Safeway store near where he lives, told him sob stories about falling on hard times and needing help paying bills or buying a car. They drove him to CIBC at Cherry Lane Shopping Centre and waited outside as he withdrew cash.

“I kept asking my dad, ‘Did you feel threatened?’ after I found out what happened, and he said, ‘No, I felt sorry for them,’” Geurts recalled.

She discovered the scam in June when her father began acting strangely and she saw a story on the TV news about another Penticton senior who had been ripped off in a similar manner.

Fearing her dad had also fallen victim, Geurts checked his bank account — to which she has access through power of attorney for him — and discovered the missing funds.

Her dad was unable to provide descriptions of the women, because he has memory problems.

“He’s very vague. The stories keep changing,” she said. Nor did his troubles end there. In late June, Geurts got a call from her dad’s bank after he lost his wallet twice in three days and demanded to withdraw $500 from his account.

She put a stop to that without getting a clear explanation what he needed the money for, and soon after discovered another $400 he had stashed in his apartment for a planned trip to Manitoba had gone missing, too.

Geurts, who reported the incidents to police, has since had a long talk with her dad about protecting himself from crooks.

“I said do not go shopping unless you have a buddy,” she said.

“I told him if anyone approaches you about money, go into a business or wherever and tell the manager so they can report it to the authorities.”

Penticton RCMP spokesman Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth confirmed the detachment has worked with Geurts, plus her dad’s neighbours and bank, to ensure his finances are “more secure.”

“I encourage children with elderly parents to have frank discussions around finances and power of attorney, ensure wills are clearly written and decisions are made while elderly individuals are still sound of mind to be able to make decisions for themselves,” Wrigglesworth said in an email.

“Basically, have a clear plan in place.”