Wife Falls Victim to Fake Hospital Staff, Struggles to Settle Medical Bills
A wife, about to discharge her husband from the hospital, falls victim to a scammer posing as hospital staff.
A 37-year-old woman tearfully shared her heartbreaking experience after falling victim to a scam while trying to settle her husband’s hospital bill.
Her husband was set for discharge after being confined for a month due to a heart attack. However, their total bill remained high, especially the professional fees of nine doctors. Hoping for assistance, they tried to negotiate the costs.
Then, they received a call from someone claiming to be Mariella M. Dela Cruz, a manager officer for one of the doctors. The caller offered a discount on two doctors’ professional fees but required the payment to be made via online transfer to avoid tax deductions.
Believing the offer was legitimate, they quickly sent the payment through Go Tyme, especially since the account was under one of the doctors’ names. However, shortly after the transaction, a hospital nurse was able to contact the real doctor, only then did they realize they had been scammed.
It turned out that a friend of the victim had posted the names of the doctors online while seeking financial help for donations. Scammers must have taken advantage of that information.
Now, the couple faces an even bigger problem. They still owe nearly half a million pesos to the hospital, and the bill continues to rise as they remain admitted. The hospital does not currently accept guarantee letters, nor do they have any assets for a promissory note.
The victim worries that the prolonged hospital stay is putting her husband at risk of another heart attack due to stress. While a hospital employee confirmed that guarantee letters are accepted, they clarified that the hospital is not responsible for scams.
The victim has since reported the incident to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Division in hopes of tracking down the scammer. Meanwhile, they are left struggling to find a way to pay the bill and bring her husband home safely.
In a previous report, a hospital staff injects pain reliever to lady patient w/ allergy, victim now in critical condition
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