OLIVEHURST-
The Yuba County Senior Center is trying to recover from the theft of $1,600 from its bank account.
The money was apparently taken after the center’s secretary/treasurer Irene Broome used the center’s ATM card at a gas station where cards were illegally scanned. Cops say someone set up what’s known as a “skimmer” at the gas station, a disguised or hidden device that records card numbers and that are retrieved by crooks.
The card is used for center expenses and that was the only instance where she used the ATM card.
“It’s not my money, it belongs to the seniors. I feel really bad that it happened on my watch,” said Broome.
The center’s president, Charlene Smith, credits Broome with uncovering the scam after she used the card. But the thieves managed to use the card number to buy tickets to Sea World in Florida, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott’s Berry Farm. Often no pin number is required when you purchase items online.
“I wish I could go to Florida period,” said Smith who said money was wasted.
The center scrapes by with money raised from Bingo games, a couple of rummage sales each year and a crafts fair.
“That was over half the month’s payment of rent,” said Broome about the stolen funds. A benefactor is helping to defray the rental costs of their building for the month.
The center, like it’s members, survives on more or less a fixed income.
“We all live on fixed incomes. When we lose it we can’t get it back,” said Broome.
Smith has been coming to the center since her husband died. She doesn’t come for the daily discounted lunches, but for the companionship and use of the video and printed library.
“I was just sitting at home and doing nothing. It saved my life and gave me something to look forward to,” said Smith.
It is notoriously difficult to recover money stolen through identity theft. They also hope their bank will reimburse them for the stolen money. Some of the seniors at the center say they will pay for gas at the counter rather than at the pump or just use cash from now on.
