A 17-year-old from Montréal has been arrested in Lachute in connection with alleged debit card fraud.
Sûreté du Québec officers made the arrest on May 12. The suspect allegedly retrieved bank cards from a residence in Lachute and then used them to make withdrawals at a financial institution in Lachute.
Police were notified about the suspect’s suspicious behaviour. The suspect was arrested while still at the counter at financial institution and allegedly making fraudulent transactions.
The suspect was taken to the Sûreté du Québec detachment in Lachute and later released on a promise to appear in court at a later date. The suspect could face fraud charges.
According to police, the victims received a call with the name of a financial institution that appeared on their caller ID. The alleged fraudsters asked them to hand over their defective bank cards and provide their PIN. No financial institution will ever ask customers to do this.
Police urge the public to talk with family members about scams they may fall victim to. Several other tips also help protect citizens against debit card fraud.
– Never give money to a stranger or someone whose identity you haven’t verified.
– If someone claims to be acting on behalf of an organization, contact the organization directly.
– Never disclose personal information to someone who cannot prove their legitimacy.
– When someone is overly insistent or even rude (for example, demanding an immediate answer), don’t trust them.
– Call the person’s parents, another family member, or friends to verify the story you were told.
Anyone who has been a victim of this type of fraud to file a complaint with their local police service. Remember that any information about criminal activity or suspicious events can be reported to the Sûreté du Québec’s Criminal Information Centre at 1-800-659-4264.
