KELOWNA– It’s a familiar scam that’s turning up once again in the Central Okanagan prompting a warning from RCMP.
The ‘Cheque Over Payment Fraud’ can come in a variety of forms, this time it’s targeting potential host families for international students.
The fraudster will contact the family to host their child, then will send a cheque for too much money.
The fraudster then asks the victim to send the difference in balance to their child to pay for air travel to Kelowna.
To avoid falling victim to’ over payment’ scams RCMP suggest the following:
-Know who you are dealing with
-Never accept a cheque for more than your asking price
-Never agree to wire back funds to a buyer
-Resist pressure to ‘act now’
-Consider a visit to the bank branch to determine if the cheque is legitimate
Police are also warning of another wave of the “Emergency or Grandparent Scam’ which typically targets the elderly.
The fraud artist contacts the victim from a private phone number claiming to be a relative in trouble.
The scammer then asks that money be transferred immediately.
Police have also received reports of a man in his 40’s going door-to-door asking for cash to pay for a tow truck.
The con artist promises to return with the cash but never does.
For more information on frauds or to report one go to http://www.antifraudcentre.ca
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