Debit scam hits Village Green Mall

By Charlotte Helston

It would have seemed like an ordinary transaction: chip inserted, buttons pressed, card withdrawn. It wasn't until later that Chatters Hair Salon in the Village Green Mall realized they'd been the victim of a scam.

Gord Molendyk, spokesperson for the RCMP says the suspect reversed the transaction, thereby transferring money from the store onto the debit card.

While staff at Chatters confirmed the incident had taken place, they refused to answer questions due to franchise policy.

Sources say close to $1000 was reverse debited onto the individual's card. But, lucky for the store, it wasn't cold hard cash that was stolen but virtual money.

Molendyk says to his knowledge, the store alerted the bank and was able to prevent a permanent loss of the cash.

"Due to the diligence of the staff, it was stopped," Molendyk says.

He says the incident was isolated to the one store, but the suspect remains an anonymous—and dangerous—shopper.

Following the incident, businesses in the mall were warned about the scam and shown a picture of the suspect.

To contact a reporter for this story email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230