The search is on for an alleged prolific con artist after Langley RCMP obtained a warrant for his arrest Thursday.
Richard Rupert, 57, is accused of preying on dozens of senior citizens – seeking them out, gaining their trust and then taking their money – Cpl. Holly Marks said in a news release.
Mounties said Rupert, who has been profiled on investigative shows America's Most Wanted and W5, has toured his act across much of Canada, leaving empty wallets and plenty of warrants in his wake.
He has most recently been spotted in Langley and is accused of swindling 92-year-old Louise Naef out of $1,800, they said.
Rupert allegedly approached Naef as she was walking home from a Langley grocery store.
Mounties said he convinced her that he was the son of a family friend and that he needed money to fix his car, which had broken down.
Rupert then escorted the elderly woman to a nearby bank, where she withdrew the large sum of cash and handed it over, according to RCMP.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Rupert is described as a Caucasian male between 5’5" to 5’6" tall and weighing between 140 to 160 lbs., with hazel eyes and short, receding dirty-blonde hair that is graying.
RCMP said he has a pockmarked face with a reddish complexion. He’s also been known to use many aliases, they said.
Agencies in multiple cities hold arrest warrants for Rupert, including Toronto, Ottawa, Medicine Hat, Victoria and Vancouver.
The warrants are for offences including theft, robbery, break and enter and fraud.
Anyone with information on Rupert’s whereabouts is asked to contact Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
