Police: Bank teller steals from senior, blames victim's ‘Alzheimer's'

ATLANTA - Atlanta Police said a senior citizen's trusted bank teller stole close to $38,000 from her customer, and said she lied to her managers to claim the man had "Alzheimer's" or "dementia" to cover up fraudulent transactions.

Police said the 84-year-old victim, who FOX 5 identifies only as "Paul," would visit the same trusted teller to take care of his account. 

"Each time he would take out money, the teller would take twice that amount," said Sgt. Paul Cooper of the Major Fraud Unit for Atlanta Police. Police said Hodge, who worked at the Bank of America off Howell Mill Road, told her supervisors the victim had memory problems, and would forget the amount he actually withdrew. 

"I'm as sharp as a tack, and swift as a whip," the victim tells FOX 5. He said he complained to Hodge numerous times, before police said family members intervened and accompanied their father to speak with bank officials.

The victim said he does not bank electronically; he still checks his account only through statements in the mail, and visits the bank in person once or twice a month.

She tried to play it on me. That's what I couldn't handle," said the victim.

A spokesperson with Bank of America tells FOX 5, the branch took the accusations very seriously and contacted law enforcement; they also said Hodge is no longer employed with the company.

Officers said they arrested Hodge for five counts of theft by taking by a fiduciary, one count of computer theft (for using a banking network to steal monies), one count of financial exploitation of an elderly person, and one count of financial identity fraud. 

Police said they don't believe there are any more victims, but are asking any senior citizens who dealt with Hodge and noticed inconsistent bank statements to contact Atlanta Police.

Bank officials and police remind people to constantly check their accounts for odd transactions, and report fraudulent activity immediately.