Charly Charles is a popular cashier at Value Village. (Facebook)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

P.A. cashier targeted by scam

Aug 25, 2020 | 4:58 PM

A Prince Albert woman is warning others to beware of phone fraud after she lost the bulk of her retirement savings when she took a scammer’s request as legitimate.

Charly Charles, 64, is well known in Prince Albert for her charismatic personality and has worked in the city’s retail industry for nearly three decades. Charles said she received a phone call a month ago from a man who claimed to be an RCMP officer working with Service Canada.

“The number matched the website and everything so I thought it was legit,” she said.

The man on the phone instructed Charles to take her money out of the bank, claiming someone was using her social security number illegally with a number of bank accounts. The man even questioned Charles if she was involved in the alleged illegal activities.

“I said because I’m a senior and I live cheque to cheque, I have a small savings and that’s about it so no it’s not me. So he said OK we believe you,” she said.

BDO Debt Solutions

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank: Tips for a Budget-Friendly Holiday

5h ago

RPCN Artist

'Felt like a movie': Chris Chipak making waves in the art world

5h ago

MMA

"The Lion" roars in New Brunswick

6h ago

Charles then explained how the man on the phone reassured her that if she transferred all her money to another account, her personal finances would be safe. He also told her a representative from the RCMP would come by her place the next morning and give her a new social security number; and all her money would also be transferred to a new card. The man also explained that by taking the old social insurance number out of play it would help the RCMP catch the persons responsible for the fraud.

“So that’s what I did, I got all my money out and sent it to them and waited for them the next morning and of course it was a no show,” she said.

Charles reported the scam to the RCMP, but told paNOW was she was essentially told there was not much that could be done despite the fact the con artists were still texting her.

Sadly, the money Charles lost represented all of her savings. Fortunately with the assistance of CERB and a $500 cash advance from her landlord, Charles was able to stay afloat. As well, a close friend created a GoFundMe account and as of Tuesday afternoon, over $3,400 was raised.

“I am so overwhelmed by it all, it’s just incredible,” Charles said. “I can’t even look to see the amount because it’s just too overwhelming for me.”

Ali Robin is Charles’s current manager at Value Village, and along with with Joan Short, helped activate the online fundraising effort.

“Charley has gone above and beyond for every one of her shoppers and I knew that anyone who has bought from her between Sears and the Village here, there would be a lot of support,” she said, adding she personally was in disbelief when she heard what happened. “My heart sank, I thought how in the heck could someone want to do this to somebody like this.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the cause can so do through the GoFundMe site. Robin said donations cannot be accepted at the store, and so people can also reach out to her or Charles through Facebook.

—

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell