A Lake Oswego caregiver is at the center of a sweeping fraud case after detectives say she used her job to raid elderly clients' personal information in the Portland area. According to investigators, the caretaker allegedly helped herself to mail, bills and identification documents inside clients' homes, then used what she found to make purchases in their names. Beaverton detectives say the investigation is far from over and they believe there could be additional victims who have not yet come forward.
According to KGW, prosecutors identified 23-year-old Willow McCullough of Lake Oswego in an indictment filed April 8 that lists aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and theft in the first and second degree. Police allege McCullough used clients' stolen information to make personal purchases and to open accounts in their names. The Beaverton Police Department is asking anyone who thinks they might be a victim to contact Detective Sean Connor at [email protected] or 503-526-2661, according to the report.
Police Seek Additional Victims
Financial exploitation is the most common type of elder abuse in community settings and often flies under the radar, in part because older victims may have memory loss or feel too embarrassed to report a trusted caregiver, according to the Oregon Department of Human Services. Nationwide numbers show how big the problem has become. The FTC reports that fraud losses among older adults rose sharply, hitting about $2.4 billion in 2024. That backdrop helps explain why Beaverton detectives want to hear from anyone who suspects their financial information was handled without permission.
What The Charges Mean
Under Oregon law, identity theft and fraudulent use of a credit card are felony offenses that can bring prison time along with court-ordered restitution. The statutes that typically apply in these cases include ORS 165.800 on identity theft and ORS 164.055 on theft in the first degree. Aggravating details, such as multiple victims or larger losses, can increase potential penalties. Convictions in similar cases often result in years behind bars and significant restitution, depending on how much was taken and other sentencing factors.
How Families Can Protect Themselves
Experts say families should treat financial information like a locked front door. That means limiting a caregiver's access to bank statements and other financial documents, securing incoming mail, reviewing bank and credit-card statements often and setting up alerts for unusual account activity. If you suspect an older adult has been exploited, Oregon DHS offers reporting tools along with the Oregon SAFEline at 855-503-SAFE (7233), and consumers can report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For possible criminal conduct, people are urged to contact local law enforcement, and Beaverton detectives specifically want anyone with information to reach out to Detective Sean Connor.
