Roughly $16,000 stolen from BG senior citizen

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When 82-year-old Joan West first hired Liz Witt about eight years ago to help out around her house, she said she was a sweet girl who was recommended to her by someone she knew.

“She (Liz) was a good girl, she was a church-going girl, I trusted her,” said West, a Battle Ground resident.

When West’s husband passed away about four years ago at the age of 78, she needed even more help around the house and Witt continued to offer that help. However, things changed drastically after Witt was involved in a car accident. She broke her neck and was prescribed pain pills, which is when everything started to take a turn for the worst, according to West.

“She became addicted, I think, she got desperate for drugs,” West said.

Witt started bringing her boyfriend, Luke Blakeman, over to West’s home to help with some of the housework and some yard maintenance. West said she enjoyed both of them being there and helping out, recalling that she often made them lunch and they were “always so nice.”

In June 2013, Witt and Blakeman started taking West’s checkbook and wrote checks to themselves, forging West’s signature. Over the past year or so, the two stole about $16,000 from West’s bank account by means of fraudulent checks.

“It was a real shocker,” West said of when she was made aware of the theft. “I trusted her. It made me feel betrayed. I’ve never had anything like this happen to me before. I used to not even lock my door, now I do.”

West, who is legally blind, was first made aware of the theft when a teller at iQ Credit Union in Battle Ground thought something was off when Witt and Blakeman kept bringing in so many checks to cash. The teller called West and asked her about writing the checks, to which West replied that she had not written any of the checks.

The teller also reported the incident to the police and both Witt and Blakeman were arrested. One of West’s friends from the church she attends has helped her through the ordeal and said Blakeman was sentenced to four years in prison and Witt was sentenced to three years.

West made a claim to Umpqua Bank where she has her account because in certain situations the bank is on the hook to put back all the money that was stolen. However, Umpqua denied her claim, citing that she did not report the claim within the required 60-day time period.

According to a letter addressed to West from Fraud Resolution Officer Tracie Farias, dated Aug. 4, 2014: “Umpqua Bank has completed its investigation regarding the claim of unauthorized of multiple items in varying amounts which cleared (the account) on various dates. The oldest item appeared on the bank statement issued on July 31, 2013. We have concluded that we are unable to reimburse you for this item due to the lateness of the claim, per the terms of our account agreement and disclosures provided at account opening, based on state law.”

According to the letter, the Affidavit of Fraudulent Item was received on July 11, 2014, which is past the required reporting time of 60 days.

However, West and her friend from church believe this incident falls under a section of RCW 62A.4-406, which lays out instances where a victim of signature forgery on checks has one year to report the activity.

West and the friend who is assisting her said the next step in this situation will be to speak with a lawyer and to also continue to try to talk with representatives from Umpqua Bank about reimbursing West’s money.

“Senior citizens are already on a limited income,” West said. “Now I have to be even more careful with my money.”

Aside from just stealing money from West, she said Witt and Blakeman also stole some items from her home such as her late husband’s toolbox and other items.

West moved to the U.S. from Canada when she was 24 and met her late husband on a skiing trip. They were married for 54 years before he passed away four years ago. Her husband was a medic in the U.S. Army and served in Korea for one year, two years in Vietnam and three years in Germany. After his time with the army, West’s husband worked at the VA, helping with meal distribution.



West worked as a secretary and worked at different office jobs throughout her life. She has lived in Battle Ground for more than 30 years and worked on the Battle Ground Rose Float as a volunteer for more than 20 years. She also used to volunteer at the North County Community Food Bank.

As a result of this incident, West offers some advice to other area seniors when allowing people to come to their home to help out.

“Be cautious and check people out,” she said. “Even if you’ve known someone for a long time, you still need to check out their background.”

BG Police alert senior citizens to financial scams

The Battle Ground Police Department is alerting the community’s senior citizens about financial scams and providing tips on how not to become a victim.

Financial fraud can be difficult to recognize and can include identity theft; fake check and wire transfer scams; investment and credit card fraud; and bogus online charitable solicitations.

One clear sign of a scam is the request to wire money. Anytime a stranger contacts you by phone, email, U.S. mail or in person and asks for money, it’s a con, even if they claim to be a family member.

Following these tips and reminders from the police can prevent you or someone you know from becoming a victim:

• Do not give anyone personal information over the phone unless you initiate the contact.

• Do hang up on suspicious telemarketers.

• Do not let yourself be pressured into a verbal or signed agreement or contract.

• Do not be intimidated. If the caller insists you will be contacted by law enforcement or the   IRS if you do not comply with their requests, simply hang up the phone.

• Do say no. A firm “no” can stop the most persistent of solicitors.

• Do not agree to pay for products or services in advance.

• Do not feel ashamed or embarrassed if you have been a victim of fraud.

• Do report it. The best way to prevent crime is to report it. Law enforcement agencies can use the information you provide to track the criminals and possibly prevent future victims of crime.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of fraud call 9-1-1 and report it.