WINNIPEG — A Winnipeg store owner is warning other businesses about a possible “seizure” scam that happened in his store last Friday, which was caught on camera.
Andres Hernandez owns the UPS Store on Vermillion Road in Southdale. He said around 6:00 that evening – just before closing – a woman walked into the store with a cane, wearing red pyjama pants and a black jacket.
Surveillance footage shows the woman walking towards the counter, but then suddenly dropping to the ground shaking.
“It looked like she was suffering from an epileptic attack,” Hernandez said. “But a minute later she said she was okay, stood up and started apologizing.”
Hernandez said two people went to help her and asked if she was okay. Hernandez said the woman started crying and said she just moved from London last week, and didn’t know anyone in the city. She also said she was lost and didn’t have any money.
Hernandez then went into the back of the store to call Winnipeg Transit to see if she could get a free ride home.
“I came back to the front of the store near the cash register, and she was leaving and said she felt better,” he said.
Then three days later, Hernandez realized the Harvest donation can was stolen, which had around $40 in it.
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He checked the surveillance video, which shows the same woman standing by the counter, taking the donation box, putting it into her bag and then leaving the store.
“We don’t know if the lady needs help or she is performing the scam,” Hernandez said. “If this is the case, we want to help and so this incident will not happen again.”
Chris Albi, a spokesperson with Winnipeg Harvest, said she has never heard of this happening with one of their donation cans before.
“This is soemthing in my 7 years here at Winnipeg Harvest that I’ve never seen,” said Albi. “I talked to some of my colleagues and they have never seen or heard of sometone taking a donation can.”
Winnipeg Harvest relies solely on donations and said every $1 donated is equivalent of $20 worth of groceries.
“So that can go a long way,” said Albi. ” That dollar is used for operations. We don’t take United Way money. We also don’t take government money. All of our donations come from individuals and the community at large.”
Albi said if the woman is in need of help she can come directly to the organization.
“We are here. Our doors are open for anybody that needs to access food,” she said. “We are not judging, We are just here with open arms and open doors.”
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