Cobourg Police are investigating after a man was scammed out of $1,600 within minutes following an incident at Walmart.
On Friday, January 25, 2019 the 59-year-old Hamilton Township man was in the express checkout at Walmart at approximately 2:10 p.m.
When he was called to checkout 12 which was close to the aisle by the washroom area, he noticed a couple standing in the aisle close to where he was standing, but didn’t think much of it.
After paying for his items with his debit card and putting his debit card back into his wallet, the victim told Today’s Northumberland he noticed the couple got in behind him and went to the cashier he had just been at.
“They came around behind me and skipped into line,” said the man who asked not to be identified.
“They didn’t bother waiting in line for their number to be called.”
The cashier spoke to the two people who had jumped the queue, but she did let them in line.
As the man was leaving the store, the same couple approached him stating he had dropped a five dollar bill out of his pocket.
“I said it’s not mine, but he said it fell out of my pocket.”
“I said, ok fine, I’ll take it and put it in my wallet.”
When the man walked to his vehicle and placed the items in his pickup, he turned around and the couple was there, demanding he return the money.
“It was my wife’s money,” said the person in broken English.
The victim took out his wallet out of his pocket and opened it up, then suddenly the man swatted at his wallet twice.
Startled the victim gave the five dollars back and got into his vehicle. Thinking something was wrong, he checked his wallet and noticed his card was missing.
“Soon as they left I looked in my wallet to make sure I had all my cards.”
“Right away I noticed my debit card was missing.”
Checking his pockets it wasn’t there, so he ran into the store to see if he left it in the machine by the cashier.
They didn’t have it, so he went back to his vehicle, phoned his wife and it was confirmed no money had been taken out of the account – yet.
The victim immediately phoned police while going to his bank to cancel the debit card.
But it was to late.
The victim was defrauded of $1,600 from the atm at the same bank in that time period.
Looking at his receipts and bank statements, the times read:
· 2:09 p.m. was the time the receipt said he purchased items at Walmart
· 2:24:01 p.m., a $500 withdrawal was taken from his account
· 2:24:34 p.m., another $500 was taken from his account
· 2:25:05 p.m. another $500 was taken from his account
· 2:26:09 p.m., a final $100 was taken from his account.
The card was deactivated at 2:31 p.m.
“My card was at my bank before I got there.”
All withdrawal’s took place at the victim’s bank, which is also where he was shutting down the card.
The victim states the he was at the bank at 2:26 p.m., because he had to wait in line for a few minutes to get to the courtesy counter and by the time the card was shut down.
“They were out working the ATM machine and I could have walked right by whoever was doing it.”
Thinking back, the victim said with his type of wallet, the credit cards were exposed when he opened it, and when the suspect swatted at it, that’s when the card was taken.
“If he had anything that was sticky to his thumb or a finger, he could have flipped the card out no problem.”
The victim said he’s not sure where they got the PIN number, but questions if it had something to do with when the couple jumped the queue. “They were persistent about getting behind me.”
“Once they got the code, all they had to do was get the card.”
The victim said the man and woman were approximately 40-45-years-old and believed to be middle eastern decent with a heavy accent.
Cobourg Police are investigating and looking into video surveillance at both Walmart and the bank to see if the same suspects are involved.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
