Warning issued after fake home health nurse robs elderly woman
CAMP HILL, AL (WSFA) -
An elderly Tallapoosa County woman was targeted by a thief acting as a caregiver and now, police are alerting other communities about the scam.
It happened Monday, November 30, 2015 around 3 p.m in Camp Hill.
When an 84-year-old resident returned to her home on North Main Street after running errands, a woman suddenly showed up at the house and said she was nurse with home health services there to check on her.
“She stated to the resident that she was trying to help her out and see if there was anything she needed,” said Camp Hill Police Chief Johnny Potts III. “Her and the resident had a conversation and she told the resident that she felt like her ankles were swollen. She said she would go out and get a cuff to check her blood pressure to make sure she was alright. When she did this, she took the resident's purse and left with it.”
The fake nurse got away with all of the victim's important ID cards and the money she relies on for the month since she lives on a fixed income. Police want to get the word out about what happened in case the same thing is tried elsewhere.
Officials say anyone working with a company or agency should be able to show you the proper identification.
“When you have someone coming into your home to provide services, it should usually be the same person or someone with the same company,” said John Matson with the Alabama Nursing Home Association. ”If it's someone that you don't recognize before you let them in your home, ask to see their identification badge. If they're working for a company, they should have an ID badge that says who they are and who they work for and what they are there to do. They should be there to do a service that you requested be provided for you.”
If you're looking for someone to care for you in your home or if you're looking for someone to care for an elderly loved one in their home, Matson says the important thing is to do your homework on the front end. If you're looking to hire someone, make sure you get references, perform a background check or go through a company that hires people who have been background checked and are certified to provide the services that your loved one needs.
In the case of the elderly Camp Hill resident, police feel she may have been watched while she was out running errands in Dadeville earlier that day, and then followed to her home.
“Always be wary of anyone who comes to your door. If you don't know them, talk to them through your screen door or through your door. Ask them who they are and why they are there, what do they need. Usually home health makes appointment with people before they come. They don't just come to anybody's house,” Chief Potts said. “I don't want this to happen to any other elderly adult or anyone else.”
The case is being investigated as a robbery.
The victim was not able to provide authorities with a detailed description of the suspect or her car.
Anyone with information is asked to call Camp Hill police at 256-373-1007.