Pharmacy was target of phone hacking scheme

The Medicine Chest Pharmacy was the victim of a long distance phone hacking scheme this month.

Tracee Vickerman, owner of the local pharmacy, said Northwestel Inc. called last Monday to inform the business that suspicious calls were being made to places like Saudi Arabia, Mozambique and the Philippines.

Its great that Northwestel called us or we wouldnt have found out until we got our huge bill at the end of the month, she said last week.

The calls appear to have started on July 3, Vickerman told the Star.

While most calls seem to have been placed at night, some did occur during the day, and Vickerman said looking back there were signs it was happening.

Staff had noticed strange numbers showing up on the call display as well as notes that calls were being transferred, but didnt think much of it.

The pharmacy had also received complaints that its lines were always busy, and occasionally staff wouldnt be able to make outgoing calls even though it appeared lines were available.

When we look back now, it was happening during the day; we just didnt know what was happening, said Vickerman.

Polarcom, which supplied the pharmacys phone system, called the store manager last week and offered to pay this months phone bill.

Gerard Angel, Polarcoms operations director, said the company covers any costs associated with what he described as toll fraud.

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Pharmacy was target of phone hacking scheme