A Fraser Valley couple is speaking out after saying they were scammed out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by a close family friend.
Judy Lehmann, 69, and Bernie Lehmann, 79, told Global News the scam began in 2019 when they were told a criminal gang was targeting them and they had to pay money to avoid being physically harmed.
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The Lehmanns handed over nearly $300,000 before discovering it was a scam.
“If you are a victim of extortion, contact the RCMP,” Judy told Global News.
“They will help you. Don’t be like me, afraid that something is wrong. I was so scared…it was horrible. I couldn’t tell anyone.
Tyler Willard, a longtime family friend, was sentenced in December to nine months of house arrest for extortion.
He was ordered to pay $260,000 in restitution, but the Lehmanns said he suffered a stroke and was on disability. So they said they were unlikely to see the money.