The Surrey RCMP says a woman has been sentenced to four years in prison after she posed as a care provider and defrauded seniors.
Mounties say multiple seniors in the Lower Mainland were defrauded of funds and robbed by a woman acting as a care aid between December 2021 and April the following year.
Investigators found she would attend the residences or care homes of elderly victims under the guise of providing them health services. Upon gaining their trust, she would get their banking information and withdrew funds from their accounts. On some occasions, police say she stole property from them including cellphones, jewellery and wallets containing cash.
The Surrey RCMP Economic Crime Unit arrested Ana Chamdal on April 13, 2022, and searched her home. After she failed to comply with her release conditions — police say she continued to commit fraud — another warrant was issued for her arrest on June 29, 2022.
Chamdal was arrested on July 27, 2022 after she was discovered to be defrauding a 95-year-old in White Rock.
She was released again on bail and ordered not to engage in any private or care-facility based work. On January 20, 2023, 65 fraud and assault-related charges were approved against Chamdal and she was arrested again.
In all, Mounties estimate she defrauded 20 victims in Surrey, Richmond and White Rock, whose losses totalled more than $60,000.
“It is disheartening to see an elderly person taken advantage of, especially by a person entrusted with providing care for them,” Corp. Vanessa Munn said in July of 2022. “This also serves as a reminder that is it important to monitor elderly family members’ finances to ensure that they are not being exploited.”
On Monday, Chamdal was sentenced to four years in jail — minus credit for her time already served — two-years probation and was ordered to pay $60,000 in restitution.
—With files from Greg Bowman.