Another scam has reared its ugly head in the South Cariboo, involving both mail and phone fraud.
A Canim Lake resident says she got a yellow card about four-by-five inches in size in the mail.
“We have been trying to reach you about your uncollected reward,” it states. “You have been selected to receive $100 in gas rebates valid at Shell, Esso, Petro-Canada and more.”
It goes on to ask her to call in toll-free for complete details on how to “claim your reward.”
The woman says she decided to call, and spoke to “Tony” who already had her correct phone number, address and postal code.
He asked her which credit card company she uses, how she would rate the card and what expiry date is has, and the resident unfortunately answered honestly. However, his next question “set off her alarm bells,” she explains.
She says he asked for the 16-digits on the front of the card.
“I said ‘nice try’ and then basically hung up on him.”
Just before she rang off, the scammer told her if she didn’t provide the numbers she wouldn’t get her reward, she adds.
The resident says she then called the 100 Mile House RCMP and it was recommended she report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (PhoneBusters).
That line was too busy to answer her calls, and she does not use the Internet, she notes.
The Canim Lake woman says she wants her neighbours and the community at large to be aware of this scam.
