‘The saddest thing’: Pelham mother scammed out of life savings amid family crisis

PELHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A 75-year-old Pelham mother is out more than $3,000 after scammers convinced her she was about to be arrested. It was the latest blow for a family already dealing with a week of heartbreaking setbacks.

Hinano Andre was put into a panic when she got a call from someone claiming to be with the IRS, threatening to have her thrown in jail.

The caller told her she owed the government money, but said there was a way to avoid an arrest warrant: go to the Home Depot in Pelham, buy gift cards and hand over the funds by transferring them to the caller. She did. In an instant, all of her money was gone.

“Hard isn’t even the word,” said Hannah Andre, one of Hinano’s daughters. “It’s been devastating to watch her and hear her crying. She has to try and figure out how to pick up all the pieces and just keep going.”

Hannah Andre said she immediately recognized the scam for what it was.

“I immediately yelled and said that is a scam and she said there’s no way,” Hannah Andre told WBRC. “She’s very scared, very hurt and angry at the situation.”

Hinano’s other daughter, Hope Allen, said their mother was in shock after realizing what happened.

“She was just lost for words,” Allen said. “It was the saddest thing, and she didn’t know what to think, what to do.”

Hinano Andre’s daughters are sharing her story in hopes of protecting other seniors in the community from falling victim to the same scheme.

A week of devastating setbacks

The scam is only the latest hardship for the family, who have endured a string of crises in just seven days.

On Friday, Hinano Andre totaled her car in a crash on her way to see her grandchildren. On Tuesday, her husband, an amputee after a lifelong battle with diabetes, was released from rehab.

Then on Thursday, the family learned he needed to be placed on hospice care. Hinano has been caring for him full-time, on top of everything else.

“A lot more tears than I’m willing to admit,” Hannah Andre said. “Trying to keep praying and know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel and God has got us no matter what.”

Police: money likely unrecoverable, but the story can help others

Pelham Police are investigating the scam, but officials say recovering the money is unlikely. Scammers like these can operate overseas, and payments made through gift cards are notoriously difficult to trace.

“It’s probably 99% sure that we won’t be able to get your money back,” said Sergeant Iliana Hayakahua with the Pelham Police Department. “I think the best thing that we can do is kind of educate.”

Police urge residents to never share personal information over the phone, and to always verify suspicious calls before acting.

“Hang up the phone, especially if they’re saying, ‘Hey, you have a warrant,’” Hayakahua said. “You can contact your local police department and just verify.”

How to help

A GoFundMe has been created to help support Hinano Andre and her family as they navigate the financial loss and ongoing challenges.

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