The caregiver of an elderly couple has been arrested for stealing 115,000 euros from them.

BarcelonaThe Mossos d'Esquadra have arrested a 57-year-old caregiver in La Seu d'Urgell for allegedly stole 115,000 euros from an elderly couple The couple, who were caring for them, had been alerted that their bank account had been emptied with unauthorized transactions. Following the investigation, the police arrested the suspect, accused of fraud, identity theft, breach of trust, and theft after she withdrew cash. In the summer, the couple—an 89-year-old woman and a 92-year-old man, both dependent on care—had hired the worker to perform domestic chores and care for them. The woman filed the complaint after going to the bank with a companion and realizing that ten cash withdrawals totaling €4,800 and a bank transfer of €50,200 had been made from her account without her knowledge. They also noticed that the transfer entry in the passbook had been altered, as the first two digits had been erased to make it appear to be only €200.

In addition, the elderly couple discovered that 107 unauthorized cash withdrawals totaling €59,180 had been made from the husband's account. From then on, the woman realized that jewelry, coins, and other valuables she kept at home were missing.

She was authorized to carry out transactions

The caregiver had access to the couple's home, which they had authorized her to use for banking transactions, as they were barely able to leave the house. The investigation revealed that the caregiver withdrew the money and was also the recipient of the transfers. Police are also investigating the detainee for alleged identity theft, as she presented an employment contract in her name with a forged signature.

According to data from the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police), approximately 200 people over the age of 65 are victims of some type of crime every day, mostly petty theft, as criminals often take advantage of their vulnerability. The Catalan public prosecutor's office and notaries are working together to create a protocol This will help detect scams targeting this group, which, according to experts, are becoming increasingly sophisticated due to the rise of artificial intelligence. While there is no data on who is deceiving the elderly, specialized organizations suggest that it is primarily perpetrated by their children or other family members, as well as domestic workers.