Charming con man preys on society's vulnerable, cops say

January 28th, 2010:

He's a well-spoken, polite gentleman, who is very good at ripping off unsuspecting seniors.

That's the picture Toronto police have painted of Richard Earl Rupert, 54, a former Windsorite wanted for allegedly criss-crossing Canada, befriending dozens of seniors and bilking them out of thousands of dollars.

"He would actually take them to the bank," said Det. John Dunlop of the Toronto police major crimes unit. "He's very good at his trade. All the complainants describe him as polite, well spoken. He engages the conversations and makes the complainants feel comfortable with him."

Rupert is wanted on a Canada-wide warrant for robbery, break and enter, eight counts of fraud under $5,000, three counts of attempt fraud under $5,000 and six counts of theft under $5,000. Toronto, Ottawa, Waterloo Regional and Niagara police have joined forces to catch him. Rupert is a Windsor native, but police said he hasn't had roots here for years. A relative said his parents died about five years ago.

"Windsor is an area he would be familiar with, coming from that area," said Dunlop. "He's also familiar with the Waterloo, Niagara, London areas."

Police said he doesn't stay in one place for long.

"We believe Richard is highly mobile, very transient, going from place to place," said Dunlop. "And we think he's targeting seniors."

He allegedly goes to retirement homes and communities where he presents himself as someone's distant relative, usually a nephew, and convinces his victims to give him money for travel, car repairs or rent. His take each time averages out to about $880. Police said there are more than 20 known victims.

"I feel there are many more that we don't know about," said Dunlop.

The victims are between 78 and 95 years old. Some are blind or mentally challenged. Others have language or memory issues.

"He's preying on the most vulnerable members of our society, our elderly, who rely on us as a society to protect them," said Dunlop. "It's sad."

Investigators got onto Rupert's trail late last year. Police said that on Nov. 30, he befriended an 81-year-old woman and took her to a bank where she withdrew some money. He later tried to grab the woman's purse, police said, but she resisted. A struggle ensued. Rupert allegedly knocked the woman onto a bench and ran off.

The struggle was captured on a surveillance video. But police didn't know the identity of the man on the video, until they sent out a news release. "That was when the investigation just flourished," said Dunlop.

"Outside agencies started contacting us saying, 'We've got pictures of him doing the same thing in our jurisdictions.' We started sharing information and the investigation mushroomed. We got information as far west as West Vancouver and as far north as Thunder Bay in Ontario."

A pattern emerged of a man who tricks people by pretending to be their long lost relative, then asking for cash.

"It's the same M.O., the same scenario, same incidents," said Dunlop.

When he approached seniors claiming to be a nephew, that was often enough to suck them in.

"They give up information," said Dunlop. "They would say, for example, 'you must be Peter.' And he says 'Yes, I'm Peter.' It's as simple as that. Then he spends the afternoon or a bit of time with them. Has a cup of tea. He would then hit them up."

MANY ALIASES

Richard Earl Rupert is white, five foot five or five foot six and 140 to 160 pounds. He has short, dirty blond and grey hair with a receding hairline. He has a reddish complexion, with chiseled cheekbones, hazel eyes and is usually clean shaven. He frequents bingo halls and stays in motels, bed and breakfasts and occasionally hostels. He pays cash. He uses many aliases, but usually with the first name Richard. Anyone with information about him can call Toronto police at 416-808-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477). You can also go online at www.222tips.com or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).

Article Credit:

TREVOR WILHELM

The Windsor Star

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