Suspected scammer preying on Penticton retailers | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Cloudy  2.8°C

Penticton News

Suspected scammer preying on Penticton retailers

Penticton retailer Marla Truman issued a warning on social media earlier this week after she says a man attempted to scam her for a second time.

PENTICTON - A Penticton merchant is warning of a scam being perpetrated in the city.

Marla Truman says she issued a warning on social media after a man came into her Winemaster shop in Apple Plaza in Penticton a few weeks ago, complaining his dog had been locked in his car but the tow truck operator refused to unlock the door because he had left his wallet at home and couldn’t pay.

“The man asks to use the phone, makes a bogus call and plays up his situation for the merchant he’s borrowed the phone from. Then he hangs up and asks to borrow a sum of money, offering to leave a shiny looking watch as collateral,” Truman says.

She describes the suspect as a man in his mid-60s, dishevelled looking, 5'9" tall with short hair and carrying a few extra pounds.

“He’s usually wearing a suit jacket, and always claims the vehicle isn’t nearby. He actually tried this on me last year as well, which makes me think he is local,” she says.

Truman says since posting the warning, several people have commented they’ve also have possibly encountered the same scammer, with one person claiming to have lost $30, another $50 and one person claims they lost $100.

She says the man must have done some homework, as he called her by her first name when he attempted the scam most recently.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police have received two complaints about the scam and are currently investigating. He says in one instance video evidence may have been obtained.

— This story was updated at 3 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2018 to include information from the Penticton RCMP.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2018
iNFOnews

  • Popular kelowna News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile