A Chilliwack woman says she knew the older gentleman in the store lineup was being scammed.
Suzi Peterson says she spotted the man counting out a big handful of pre-paid gift cards at the local Walmart on Monday.
91ƵIt just felt wrong,91Ƶ Peterson said.
It wasn91Ƶt just one or two gift cards, maybe destined for his grandkids. It was a huge stack of $50 cards. But she didn91Ƶt want to scare him by approaching him directly so she had a discreet word with one of the store staff, who took the matter to a manager.
91ƵI notified staff to make sure he wasn91Ƶt being scammed, and sure enough he was,91Ƶ Peterson posted on Facebook.
The comments and reactions to her public post on social media were very positive.
91ƵThank you for noticing and saying something,91Ƶ said one person.
91ƵWell done,91Ƶ chimed in another. 91ƵMy in-laws were burned too.91Ƶ
91ƵThank you for caring enough,91Ƶ said a poster.
The long-running often sees vulnerable seniors being preyed upon by con artists who tell them they91Ƶre being investigated for unpaid taxes and their assets will be seized. The fraudsters often threaten them until they agree to send pre-paid cards to erase an imaginary outstanding debt with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Peterson was adamant about not letting this man be taken in by unscrupulous criminals.
The staff member asked him casually why he was buying the cards, and he said it was for the CRA.
91ƵI just knew something was wrong! The staff was very good about it, and they told him it was a scam,91Ƶ she recounted.
The man still ended up buying one card, but put the rest back.
Peterson says she knew there was something up because they had tried out the same scam on her six months ago, and she told the CRA impersonators to 91Ƶpound sand91Ƶ when they said police would soon be at her door.
91ƵI can91Ƶt believe this scam is still happening,91Ƶ Peterson said.
91ƵIt was so prevalent for years, but many people still need to become aware that the scam is still out there. Tell your neighbours and don91Ƶt let our seniors become victims,91Ƶ she wrote on Facebook.
In fact, the CRA never demands prepaid cards or banking details. If people get swindled, they should report it to RCMP.
91ƵPlease make your parents, grandparents, older friends, aunts, uncles, any senior you are acquainted with, aware that this is a scam,91Ƶ she said, 91ƵPlease tell someone if they get a call asking them to purchase anything at all to ignore it.91Ƶ
For more information about frauds and scams check out
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