WPTV reported that Evelyn Dick persuaded a 71-year-old North Palm Beach woman to let her get a reverse mortgage on the woman’s home, then pocketed more than $34,000.
North Palm Beach Police arrested Dick on charges of grand theft on a person older than 65 years of age after investigators say she used a signature of a 71-year-old woman to sign over power of attorney to her in attempts of applying for a reverse mortgage on the woman’s property.
Police say Dick asked the victim for a signature on a piece of paper that she said was to help her obtain food stamps. The woman signed the paper and Evelyn took her to the TD Bank located at 316 Northlake Boulevard. The victim was told to wait in the car.
Once inside, police say Evelyn used the woman’s signature to give her authority to sign and cash checks for the woman’s account. Dick then applied for a reverse mortgage and had the first payment of $34,557 dollars paid to one of Dick’s new accounts. She then cashed two checks in the amount of $25,000 and $14,000.
According to authorities, the victim became aware of the reverse mortgage when documents from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development were sent to her house.