The Nottawasaga detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating a fraud and are looking for the public's help to identify three individuals involved.
On Jan. 5, 2025, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. officers responded to two fraud incidents at the CIBC bank located at 35 Young St., in Alliston where the victim lost $1,600 and the CIBC bank located at 55 Queen St. S. in Tottenham, where the victim lost $3,800.
"Video surveillance shows that the victims appear to be completing their transactions at an ATM, going to leave the premises and are then called back by the suspect a which time, they tell he victim that their transaction hasn't completed and therefore they can't use the ATM," an OPP release says about the incidents.
"The suspect will attempt to demonstrate the problem to the victim by putting an unidentified card in the machine that then shows an error. The suspects then physically take the card out of the victim's hand, puts it partially into the ATM, hits cancel and then hands them back what they think is their card but in reality is someone else's, or possibly a fake card."
The real card is then used to withdraw funds from the victim's bank account and, in the case of the occurrence in Tottenham, the card was also used to to purchase several prepaid credit cards at local retailers.
Video surveillance also appears to show the male subject removing one of the shields intended to help hide a PIN number, and then observes the PIN entry over the victim's shoulder.
Officers are looking to identify the individuals involved.
Anyone with information is asked to call 1-888-310-1122 (reference number E250018227, E250018291).
Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or online.
