A woman in Halifax shared her recent encounter with fraud in the hopes of raising awareness to prevent others from falling victim to scammers. Candida Hadley realized her wallet was missing after meeting a friend for tea at a café in north-end Halifax last week. She noticed the theft when her purse felt lighter than usual upon standing to leave after a lengthy chat.
As she was preparing to freeze her cards, Hadley received a call supposedly from Royal Bank, alerting her of suspicious activities on her card. The caller asked for verification details, including her PIN, which she unwittingly disclosed due to the perceived legitimacy of the call. In hindsight, Hadley acknowledged her error in sharing sensitive information under stress.
Subsequently, Hadley canceled her cards, but the fraudsters had already made unauthorized transactions totaling $700 at a local store and withdrew $500 in cash. Another attempted purchase of $3,000 at a different store was thwarted. Additionally, she received an automated call regarding a high-value purchase at a mall, indicating a coordinated scam operation.
Hadley expressed confusion over how the scammers obtained her unlisted cellphone number, raising concerns about the sophistication of the scam. She advised vigilance against sharing personal details and cautioned against fraudulent calls, highlighting the need to verify the authenticity of callers.
Despite her quick actions, Hadley lamented the financial losses incurred due to the scam. While she reported the incident to Halifax Regional Police, investigations are ongoing. Police spokesperson Marla MacInnis emphasized the prevalence of such scams and urged the public to safeguard personal information and to verify the legitimacy of requests for sensitive details.
Reflecting on her experience, Hadley emphasized the need for caution and skepticism, especially in responding to unsolicited calls. She acknowledged the need for increased awareness to combat fraudulent activities and protect individuals from falling victim to scams.