When Did My Dad Get So Old? And Why is Uber Eats Draining His Bank Account?

Have you ever looked at your aging parent and thought, «Wow, when did they get so old?» Well, that moment hit me hard two weeks ago at my step-mother’s funeral. There was my father, once the strong, emotionally flat affect kind of guy, fighting to hold back tears. Honestly, it was a bit like seeing Superman try to cry—just… unnatural.

He’d spent 15 months as the primary caregiver to my step-mother, and it had clearly taken a toll. Once overweight, my dad now looked like a strong gust of wind could blow him over. His clothes were hanging off him like he was auditioning for a «before» picture in a weight loss ad. The guy who could once bench press me as a kid now walked like he was afraid the floor might attack him.

Dad was a victim of bank fraud. For three months. Three months of scammers having a field day with his account 

Fast forward two weeks after my step-mom's passing, and now my dad is living with my husband and me. Let me tell you, nothing prepares you for the moment you realize, wow, my parent is officially confused about life. Sorting through his paperwork, my husband and I were playing detective, uncovering a treasure trove of… overdue bills and disconnection notices. Lovely.

This is the same man who, when we were kids, lectured us on the importance of paying bills on time like it was the 11th Commandment. He practically tattooed «protect your credit score» on our brains, and now? His bank account had a grand total of… drumroll, please… three dollars. Yup. Just enough for half a cup of coffee at your local overpriced café.

Keep an eye on your aging parents. Seriously, you never know when the invincible people who raised you are suddenly vulnerable.

And the transactions we found? Let's just say, it wasn’t Dad’s usual grocery store run. Nope, it was Uber Eats, Venmo, and a bunch of other random charges. I’d be impressed if he knew how to use Uber Eats—except he wasn’t the one ordering. That’s when it hit me: Dad was a victim of bank fraud. For three months. Three months of scammers having a field day with his account while he probably wondered why his balance was shrinking faster than his waistband.

Two years ago, he had a neuropsychological test for Alzheimer’s, and although we were all bracing for bad news, he passed (barely, according to the examiner, but still—passed). Now, looking at all this, I’m wondering if that test needs a redo.

So, what’s the moral of the story here, besides «always check your Uber Eats account»? Keep an eye on your aging parents. Seriously, you never know when the invincible people who raised you are suddenly vulnerable. If I could go back, I’d have had someone watching over my dad’s finances long before his bank account hit single digits and scammers started treating his savings like a personal ATM. Trust me—you don't want your first clue to be an overdue electric bill or, worse, a $3 balance.