Province-Wide Scam Targets Rural Businesses

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C. - It's a scam so widespread across the province that the RCMP's Federal Commercial Crime Section has stepped in to investigate...

Constable Michael McLaughlin says this recent rash of credit card fraud starts over the phone and ends on the internet. (photo at right courtesy RCMP)

McLaughlin says the crime starts when suspects in the Lower Mainland use stolen credit card information to order merchandise over the phone from businesses in smaller communities.  He says the criminals typically request to have the merchandise shipped by courier or bus to a rural depot, then calls the depot to have it re-directed to the Lower Mainland.

The RCMP officer says the goods being purchased are generators, tools, appliances and recreational equipment.  The fraudsters post the items for sale on an on-line classified advertising service.  McLaughlin says often the stolen merchandise is sold on-line before the cardholder even realizes their credit card has been compromised.

He says, "This seemingly-simple fraud is so widespread that it has targeted rural businesses in almost every area of BC, and that’s why the RCMP Commercial Crime Section has been called in."

He's warning business owners and employees who take credit card information over the phone to reduce their risk of being victimized by getting full authorization from a credit card company before finalizing a sale and says you can even ask to verify the cardholder's name and address - the fraudsters in this scam will often not use the cardholder's real name and may not know the address.

Finally, McLaughlin says the federal RCMP are also warning individuals who purchase brand new items from on-line classified services that they need to be wary.  "If the price for a new item is well below retail value, and the seller wants to meet in a public location, you should be aware the products they are selling are likely stolen. Remember, if you knowingly buy stolen property, you are also committing an offence."

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us