A woman from Halifax is recounting her encounter as a target of fraud in the hopes of cautioning others against falling victim to scammers.
Candida Hadley met a friend at a café in north-end Halifax for tea. Upon getting ready to leave after a lengthy chat, she sensed her purse was lighter than expected. Upon inspection, she discovered her wallet missing. Despite a thorough search and inquiries with café staff, it became apparent that her wallet had been stolen.
However, the loss of her wallet was just the initial episode. As she was about to head out to freeze her cards, she received a call purportedly from Royal Bank. The caller claimed there was suspicious activity on her card and proceeded to ask for various verification details, keeping her on the line for a few minutes as if conducting standard bank procedures.
Reflecting on the conversation, Hadley disclosed her PIN to the caller, mistaking them for a legitimate bank representative instead of the wallet thief. She expressed regret over divulging such sensitive information due to feeling stressed and anxious in the moment.
Following the call, Hadley began to feel uneasy and suspected a scam. Despite canceling her cards promptly, the fraudsters managed to make a $700 purchase at a local store and withdraw $500 in cash within the 30-minute window they had access. Additionally, they attempted a $3,000 purchase elsewhere, which was unsuccessful.
Hadley noted an unusual automated call received shortly after her wallet went missing, prompting her to confirm or deny a purchase she had no involvement in. She later realized this was likely another component of the scam, as the number provided was not operational upon her attempt to contact it post-fraud.
The sophistication of the scam still perplexes Hadley, particularly regarding how the thieves obtained her private mobile number, which was not visibly recorded in her wallet and not publicly available. Despite her vigilance against email scams, she was caught off guard by the phone call, highlighting the intricate nature of the operation.
Halifax Regional Police are actively investigating the incident after receiving a report on August 13. Police emphasized the prevalence of such scams and advised individuals to safeguard their personal information diligently. They warned against sharing sensitive details without confirming the caller’s identity and organization authenticity.
Due to revealing her PIN during the call, the bank has denied Hadley a refund. She urges others to remain cautious and emphasizes the potential for caller IDs to be manipulated.
In a caution to the public, Hadley stressed the importance of never disclosing a PIN and being cautious of fraudulent callers. She emphasized the need for verifying the legitimacy of individuals and organizations before sharing personal information.
The police have confirmed the ongoing investigation into the incident, underscoring the common occurrence of such scams and the necessity of protecting personal data from scammers.