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Vol. 16, No. 30, Wednesday, June 23 , 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
SCAM ATTEMPT Elderly couple suffers stress illnesses, neighbour and pharmacist praised for intercepting crime BY JANA SEMENIUK A Bruderheim Pharmacist is being praised by his community after intercepting an attempted scam on a local senior last week. Ehab Mohammed, owner and pharmacist of the Bruderheim Pharmacy, said he became suspicious when one of his customers wanted to purchase a large amount of gift cards. The senior woman, 83, and her husband, 92, have asked to remain anonymous. “The senior woman came in and said she needed a pre-paid gift card, putting emphasis on ‘pre-paid’. So someone has already told her what they need,” he said. “I started having doubts and she seemed nervous. She asked for $310 in pre-paid cards.” Mohammed pressed the woman for more information. “She said she needed it for a tow truck,” he said. “She said she won a truck and needed to pay the tow truck driver with the cards.” Mohammed immediately knew what was happening. “I knew right away what was going on. I told her no. This is a scam 100 percent,” he said. “I refused to sell her the cards.” The drama began on June 15 when the woman received a call from a private number informing her that she won a truck in the Stars Lottery. “I thought it’s possible we won because I buy tickets, but my husband said what am I going to do with a truck at my age? He didn’t want it,” she said. “I told my neighbour what happened and she told me it was a scam.”
The neighbour, who also asked to the elderly woman recalled. “I had to remain anonymous, said she looked buy $310 in gift cards.” However, into the the woman woman’s w a s claim on stopped in line. her tracks “I looked by Moon the list hammed. of winners “When I for the Stars went to buy Lottery and not only did I not see their names any- the cards, the pharmacist said ‘no way. I’m not going to sell these to where, there wasn’t even a you. It’s a scam. Don’t truck listed as a prize,” even pay attention to said the neighbour. it,’ so that really hit Meanwhile, to me,” she said. another caller to Although the the elderly couwoman then ple who identidecided to fied herself as s i m p l y a lawyer for ignore the Stars scam, the Lottery, scammers instructed weren’t the interested woman in ignorhow to ing her. claim her “The prize. next day, “I thought June 16, we if it’s a got a third lawyer than phone call this is probtelling us we ably real. She w o n said the tow $126,000,” she truck driver said. “Then on who was going June 17 another to deliver the truck phone call that a didn’t take debit or Ehab Mohammed truck load of groceries credit and would only was going to be delivered accept a pre-paid gift card,”
Neighbour helps identify the fraud, then calls the anti-fraud department of the RCMP
to us.” The woman’s neighbour came over to help them contact police when yet another call came in. “I was there to talk to my neighbours and contact police when their phone rang and it was someone from Amazon,” said the neighbour. “They said they wanted to process a refund and were asking them for information.” The neighbour immediately contacted the anti-fraud department of the RCMP. “I was on the phone with them for over an hour reporting what happened to this elderly couple,” said the neighbour. “Nearly all of the phone numbers displayed appeared local with 780-796 prefix. But when you call it back it isn’t connected.” Meanwhile, the stress of being targeted by the scammers was too much for the elderly couple who began to suffer physically. “I experienced uncontrollable nosebleeds and was rushed to the hospital twice in the last week. As well, my husband was taken to the Lamont Health Care Centre for elevated blood pressure,” said the woman. “I’m on some pretty strong medication now.” While both are recovering at home, the woman was grateful she did not lose any money and had nothing but praise for Mohammed. “I thought I should have listened to my husband. But I am very thankful to the pharmacist. I am so grateful and happy to him,” she said.