Barbara, the Coldstream senior who was scammed out of her life savings (photo courtesy of Dave Miller / GoFundMe)

By Liam Verster

Living In Her Car

GoFundMe launched for Coldstream senior scammed out of savings

Nov 13, 2024 | 10:22 AM

A fundraising campaign has been launched to support a local woman who has lost her home.

Dave Miller launched a GoFundMe for a woman named Barbara, a 75-year-old Coldstream woman who is living in her car.

The fundraising campaign said Barbara lost her husband during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then was scammed out of her life savings of roughly $100,000, after which she lost her home in Coldstream Meadows.

In addition to having to live in her car, Barbara is also battling skin cancer.

“Barb is a feisty lady and very strong willed. She has a positive outlook, despite her predicament. I would see her in her car when i would pass by the parking lot she is in on my way to the gym for the last month and I feel compelled to help her,” Miller wrote on the GoFundMe website.

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“Despite what one might think, there are limited resources for seniors in our province. Barb lives on modest pension, so she is not able to afford the high rents.”

Miller’s short-term goal is to find Barbara a room to rent, but he wants to go beyond that and raise enough money to put down a damage deposit for a safe, comfortable home and use any additional funds to supplement her income, which currently consists of pension payments.

Miller said he set up a bank account for the Coldstream senior and will distribute the funds to her, as she is not internet savvy, should the GoFundMe yield results.

As of time of publication, the GoFundMe had raised $495. Donations to support Barbara can be made online here.