NANAIMO — Police are warning the public about door-to-door scams, after a recent canvass of the Uplands/Rock City neighbourhood.
Mounties note two men in their early 20s were seen going door to door in the Uplands Dr. area in the afternoon and evening hours of Oct. 8, claiming to be collecting donations for the Canadian Red Cross.
Some in the area also saw the pair on streets off Rock City Rd. after dark, with Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien saying they received two reports from concerned residents.
“We’ve determined they were not with them, and no money was lost. We thought it was prudent to let the public know, because these incidents happen from time to time, and it may not be the Red Cross, it may be another one, so there’s some things that you should be aware of.”
O’Brien said scammers try and blend in with legitimate workers and volunteers for organizations like the Red Cross, and look to take advantage of people who aren’t able to tell the difference.
He added those collecting for the Red Cross in particular will have appropriate branded clothing.
“They’ll also be carrying an iPad or a tablet, they’ll have a visible ID tag, and they will show it to you to ensure that you’re satisfied they’re with them. The key thing is they will not ask for cash donations…this would be a monthly contribution.”
O’Brien said other agencies will have similar procedures for their door-to-door teams.
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