At least one local business in Burns Lake was hit over the Christmas holidays by a tricky credit card fraud which resulted in a $1000 loss for the business owner.
The business owner requested anonymity to protect against future fraud attempts. Burns Lake RCMP requested the details of the scam not be made public as it could interfere with an ongoing investigation that includes neighbouring detachments.
A second business owner was also reported to have been targeted, but the details of that case were not relayed to Burns Lake RCMP. There is only one current fraud investigation related to this case.
Staff Sergeant Grant MacDonald described the perpetrator as a young woman, approximately five foot seven and 110 pounds, with purple streaks dyed into her black hair.
She is believed to have been driving, or to have been a passenger in, a car with Alberta license plates.
Until details of the scam can be released, RCMP are asking business owners to be very attentive to card swipes or chip-card insertions at their card reading machines.
“Business owners should be extra vigilant regarding keypad transactions,” MacDonald said. “Be mindful of pin entry.”