Police in Steinbach, Manitoba, are cautioning individuals to remain vigilant against overpayment scams following a charity’s encounter with a fraudulent donation cheque. Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue president Michelle Neufeld revealed that the organization was nearly duped by an overpayment scam last spring. The scam involved a fraudster sending a cheque for thousands of dollars, claiming it was an accidental overpayment, and requesting a refund of the excess amount.

The scammer, using the alias “Kevin Vance Owens,” initially contacted the rescue via email in April to inquire about making a donation. Subsequently, a cheque was mailed to Neufeld, who deposited it. However, the scammer later claimed that their assistant had mistakenly sent a $4,000 cheque instead of the intended $2,000, with the extra $2,000 purportedly meant for another organization. They insisted on receiving half of the money back along with a tax receipt.

Upon investigating the situation, the charity discovered that the cheque was counterfeit, preventing them from falling victim to the scam. Neufeld emphasized the importance of verifying such transactions before taking any action. Although the animal rescue did not suffer financial losses, they decided to acknowledge the scammer on a sponsorship plaque as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Steinbach RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Maxwell highlighted the increasing prevalence of scams, including overpayment schemes. He advised individuals to be cautious of scammers creating urgency to coerce quick decisions and using unconventional payment methods like prepaid cards or cryptocurrency. Maxwell urged potential victims to stay composed, contact the authorities, and consult with their financial institutions before proceeding with any transactions.

In a separate incident, Earl Funk, the mayor of Steinbach and owner of Earl’s Meat Market, recounted a cyber scam that cost his business thousands of dollars. Funk detailed how an email impersonating him instructed the market’s bookkeeper to make electronic payments to a supplier, leading to a loss of $3,000 despite efforts to halt the transactions. Feeling violated by the breach, Funk emphasized the need for enhanced security measures and stricter payment approval protocols to prevent future incidents.

Both Neufeld and Funk’s experiences underscore the importance of vigilance and due diligence in safeguarding against fraudulent activities, particularly in the face of evolving cyber threats. Organizations and individuals are advised to exercise caution, verify payment requests, and promptly report any suspicious incidents to law enforcement authorities.