An alert store employee at Coquitlam Centre mall stopped a swindler from perpetrating a skimming scam last week. And police are warning local shopkeepers to be wary of other fraudsters trying to pull the same trick.
On Oct. 20, a man told a clerk in one of the mall's stores that he had a work order to upgrade the store's PIN pad for the new American Express chip cards. The employee told police the man seemed to be in a hurry and appeared suspicious. Instead of allowing him to proceed, she told the man she would need to confirm the work order with the manager before the work could start.
The man then left the store and the manager later confirmed there was no work order for an upgrade.
"If anyone comes into your business claiming they have to install anything to your PIN pad and you have no prior knowledge of it, we recommend that you verify the claim with your colleagues," said Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jamie Chung. "In this case, the employee's action may have averted many potential skimming scams at the business."
Skimming devices are used to steal digital information from credit and debit cards.
The suspect is described as a bald male with an average build, wearing a striped shirt, navy blue sweater, khaki pants and carrying a man purse.
To report information, call the non-emergency number at 604-945-1550 and quote File # 2013-31164.
