BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) — A caregiver from Port St. Lucie, Rachel Albert, has been arrested for embezzling more than $18,000 from an elderly client in Boca Raton. Albert, 55, is accused of forging signatures on 32 checks and making unauthorized credit card purchases from the client’s accounts.
The Boca Raton Police Department (BRPD) began investigating after the daughter of the elderly woman reported several bounced checks on March 7, 2024. Upon auditing the woman’s finances, investigators discovered that Albert, who had been working as a caregiver for the elderly woman and her husband since September 2023, had written checks to herself, forging her clients’ signatures.
The total amount embezzled from the client’s bank account was found to be $15,330, and it was further revealed that Albert had also made unauthorized credit card purchases totaling $2,711.35. Some of these charges included personal purchases at:
Popeyes – $11.21
Dunkin Donuts – $7.68
Marshalls – $114.69
Burger King – $17.29
Stanton Optical – $390.00
Luxe Nail Spa – $85.00
Golden Spa – $46.75
Beauty First – $30.98
Walmart Supercenter – $233.54
Albert was interviewed by BRPD on August 8, 2024, where she claimed the checks were for payroll and mentioned receiving a graduation gift from the elderly woman’s family. However, police found that the client had no knowledge of Albert’s daughter and had not authorized any of the charges or checks.
Iris Collins-Cruz, an elder law attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, emphasized the vulnerability of seniors when it comes to caregivers. “It becomes so easy for them to exploit the senior person because they have access to their credit cards,” Collins-Cruz said, advising families to keep a close eye on their loved ones’ finances. She also recommended that families out of state appoint a power of attorney to oversee the assets and financial accounts of their elderly relatives.
Albert has been charged with:
Grand theft from a person over 65
Uttering forged checks
Fraudulent use of a credit card
Fraudulent use of personal identification information
Albert was arrested Wednesday and is currently facing serious charges. Boca Raton Police reminded families to regularly check their bank statements and transaction logs for any signs of fraudulent activity.
