Glen Cove Recognizes CVS Employee Who Saved Elderly Woman From Phone Scam

CVS employee and Good Samaritan Antonella Coscarelli received a Certificate of Commendation by the City of Glen Cove after she helped prevent an elderly woman from falling victim to a phone scam in August.

On Aug. 23, an elderly woman walked into CVS Pharmacy, located at 65 Forest Ave., to purchase $1,500 worth of prepaid cards to help her grandson who was believed to be arrested, police say.

Luckily for the woman, a John Jay College of Criminal Justice student was working the register. Coscarelli, who serves as the store’s operational manager, was suspicious of the situation and asked the woman about the money she was spending. The young woman took the time to explain to the elderly woman that she was being scammed by a criminal, thus preventing the scammers from earning any money.

The City recognized Coscarelli’s actions at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

“Because of the proactive efforts of Antonella Coscarelli, there is one less victim,” Mayor Reggie Spinello said in a press release.

Coscarelli thanked the Mayor, City Council members, Glen Cove Deputy Police Chief Ortiz and Lt. Det. John Nagle for the recognition. She also encouraged others to speak out if they see a person purchasing a large amount of pre-paid credit cards, which is one of the telltale signs of a phone scam.

Coscarelli serves as an examples to others that if you see something, say something.

Image via City of Glen Cove: Pictured (front row) Mayor Spinello, Antonella Coscarelli, Glen Cove Deputy Police Chief Ortiz and Lt. Detective Nagle. (Back row) Glen Cove City Council members Nick DiLeo Jr., Efraim Spagnoletti, Pamela Panzenbeck, Timothy Tenke, Rodrick Watson and Joseph Capobianco.