Heather WOOD – Fraud Over $5,000

(SIMCOE, ON) In February of 2014, members from West Region Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Crime Prevention and Investigations commenced an investigation into allegations of fraud totalling over $23,000.

Investigation determined that between April 2013 and January 2014, 48 year old Heather WOOD, who is from Simcoe, defrauded an elderly couple out of the funds.

She will appear in a Provincial Court of Justice in Simcoe on June 3, 2014 to answer to the charge of fraud over $5000 under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The OPP recognizes this behaviour as elder abuse. Elder abuse is described as any action or inaction by any person who causes harm or threatens to cause harm to an older adult. A family member, a friend, a caregiver, a staff member at a care facility or anyone the older person relies on for their basic needs or services may cause the abuse.

Financial abuse could include: theft or misuse of money or property, dishonest use of money or assets, misuse of a Power of Attorney, fraud, extortion or forgery. OPP encourages anyone who knows of or is suspicious of an abusive situation to contact your local police authority, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

For further information on elder abuse please refer to the Resources tab on www.opp.ca.

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