By Trelle Burdeniuk

Sask, Alta merchants out $60,000 due to credit card fraud

Feb 1, 2011 | 11:51 AM

A rash of counterfeit credit cards frauds have occurred all over Saskatchewan and rural Alberta leaving people and merchants out $60,000.

Scott Lambie, RCMP Sergeant with the Commercial Crimes Section, said the criminals have used these fake credit cards about 100 times since November. The cards have a legitimate number, but the magnetic stripe doesn't work. Instead stores enter the number manually and then merchants are forced to foot the bill.

“Credit cards are very well created. The magnetic stripes should work and if they're chip cards, the chips should work. If you do enter something manually, know exactly who you're getting the card from,” said Lambie.

He suggested stores ask for extra ID, check the signatures or ask for another form of payment and avoid punching in those numbers by hand.

Another warning sign is that the credit cards are missing valuable information.

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“There's no name on the card, there's no raised numbering, no raised name – things like that. They don't have the security features.”

The public should also watch credit card statements for suspicious transactions.

Lambie said the RCMP knows where the criminals are getting the credit card numbers from, although he would not release that information.

He hoped people may recognize the two male suspects from the photos provided.

news@panow.com