Merchants taken in by a debit card scam that has affected at least six Montreal businesses are sounding the alarm, warning others to be on the lookout.
Depanneur manager Hossain Shirani said it took 20 seconds for his store to lose $5,000 in the scam.
Caught on surveillance camera, a young man is seen beginning a debit card transaction. His alleged accomplices distract the cashier, then the main terminal is grabbed. With the push of a few buttons, Shirani said the $5,000 was refunded to the card.
He said two of his depanneurs were targeted last week.
“Basically we lost $10,000 in two days,” said Shirani, adding that the money won't be easy to recover.
His debit card provider Elavon said there's little they can do.
“No, (they said) it's not our responsibility, it's yours. And that's it, you go after them and call the police and you make a report,” he said.
The alleged thieves have been busy.
Last weekend, the same group was caught on surveillance camera at another depanneur, running the same scam.
Elavon was also the debit service provider.
“What about security on their part on their system? How come it was not protected?” said depanneur manager Philip Dormani.
In a statement the company said:
We are aware of this recent debit card scam and are working closely with local authorities to stop these incidents from recurring.
Montreal police say an investigation is in progress for the depanneur debit card fraud, but merchants say they'd like to see more progress in that investigation and are growing frustrated.
“Unfortunately the police said the person who is involved with this case is on vacation and he's coming back next week so we’re still waiting,” said Shirani.
“They're using TD bank debit cards, each time different number, and the bank is ready to give the information to the police, and they just need the police to call them, to give the information so they can go get the guys,” added Dormani.
Shirani said he's aware of four other businesses that are victims of the same scam.
