The Owen Sound Police Service is currently investigating numerous point-of-sale purchases made by fraudsters at businesses in Owen Sound. Over the span of a month, it is estimated that almost fifty-thousand dollars ($50,000.00) 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 only to learn from the credit card company that the purchase has been made illegally. The fraudsters are sophisticated enough to 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.

While it may be tempting to take short-cuts or to disregard established business practices for bigger sales, it leaves businesses vulnerable to having a loss of property and in some cases a repayment to be made to the credit card provider. We remind all vendors in Owen Sound whether you are a big enterprise or a smaller family business, to follow the adage that, "If it sounds too good to be true, then it usually is."

If you have been victimized in the manner described above, or if you have any information about these offences please 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).

source: media release, Owen Sound Police Services