Former caregiver accused of stealing thousands from elderly woman in Boca
BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — A former nurse is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from an elderly woman in her care in Boca Raton.
Police arrested 61-year-old Ayesha Farhat Abbasi on charges of exploitation of the elderly $50,000 or more and used the ID of another without their consent involving $50,000 or more.
The investigation began in March 2017 when the daughter of the 85-year-old retired school teacher noticed "large suspicious transactions" on her checking account.
Police said Abbasi, at the time, worked for Premier Care Nurses of America out of Boca Raton, and as the woman's caregiver from Dec. 2015 until her termination in May 2016. A spokesperson for the business said Abbasi got fired after being accused of stealing from another client.
According to the arrest report, authorities reviewed all the financial records and said Abbasi stole more than $74,000 from the elderly woman. The fraudulent activity 22 personal checks written out as cash to Abbasi from the woman's account.
Police said Abbasi used the money to pay car loans, and phone and cable bills for herself and her children.
Investigators said Abbasi had a criminal past that included fraud and an arrest warrant for fraud out of Farmington Hills in Michigan.
The woman's family told investigators they never authorized the caregiver to make transactions off the victim's account. The victim also told police that she lost her debit card several months earlier but never informed her bank.
The victim told police she worked as a teacher in New York for 30 years and saved as much as she could for her retirement. She said she trusted Abbasi and felt upset and vulnerable after what she did.
