The Owen Sound Police Service has issued a warning to local businesses.
Officers are investigating numerous point-of-sale purchases made by fraudsters at businesses in the city.
Over the span of a month, it is estimated that almost $50,000 of merchandise has been illegally purchased with the use of credit cards.
The fraudsters call a store with the intention of making multiple purchases of goods, and offer a stolen or a manufactured credit card as payment. It's only later that the business learns from the credit card company that the purchase has been made illegally.
The fraudsters know that unless the businesses follow the rules of accepting credit as set-out by the company, they will be responsible for the inventory that is sold, and neither protection nor refund is given by the credit provider.
Police are reminding all vendors in Owen Sound, big and small, to follow the adage that, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is."
If you have been victimized in this manner, or if you have any information about these offences, contact Detective C. Matheson of the Owen Sound Police Service at 519-376-1234 ext 158 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
