The daughter of a senior from Burlington says her mother fell victim to a scam that drained almost $400,000 from her savings.
Not only has her retirement funds been wiped out, but she is also battling terminal lung cancer.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see that everything she worked so hard for has been taken away like this,” said Krystal Battistel.
Battistel mentions that her mother, Karen Wales, who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, became a target of this scam.
“This unfolded quickly,” said Battistel. “Her mental state declined rapidly, and just one phone call drew her in, made her anxious, and it escalated from there.”
In February, according to Battistel, her mother received a Whats App text from someone claiming to be a judge who told her that her money was at risk and needed to be moved immediately.
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“They pretended that – her identity had been stolen and her funds were in danger. Their scheme was to convince her to transfer it into a government secure account or machine,” said Battistel.
This resulted in the 75-year-old making numerous transfers and losing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“What we can prove is $360,200,” said Battistel.
“She thought she was doing the right thing but ended up being tricked,” said Chris Battistel, Wales’s son-in-law. “That’s what bothers me the most; these people are just exploiting vulnerable seniors.”
The family has reported this incident to Halton police, who are currently investigating the matter.
Officers advise everyone to discuss scams with their loved ones and remain vigilant.
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“Don’t let anyone rush you into making decisions – ‘it has to be done now; send me money immediately; click this link right away’ – anything like that is a major red flag,” said Halton Regional Police media relations officer Ryan Anderson. “Talk with people you think might be at risk for this kind of thing. And if you get such calls yourself, take some time to verify the information before acting. That’s our best advice.”
Battistel offers some tips for those with elderly parents.
“The best thing I can suggest for anyone with an older parent is to go together to the bank and ensure they have measures in place where multiple approvals are needed for any significant transfers,” said Battistel.
Halton police emphasize that scammers are always coming up with new tactics.
You can find more information on how to protect yourself on the Halton Police Service website here.
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