Protect your PIN: Fraudsters ripoff Kamloops shoppers

“Please always remember that not everyone behind you is trustworthy, even if they may look like they are." A pair of shoppers had their personal identification numbers numbers stolen while making purchases in Kamloops recently and that’s prompted a warning from RCMP to protect your PIN. A person had their wallet stolen, Aug. 20, while they were being distracted in a shopping mall parking lot, according to an RCMP media release. Money was withdrawn from the victim’s bank account using the PIN they had just punched in at the checkout in a store. “It’s believed the person was followed at the checkout and watched by someone who was spying for a pin number,” RCMP media liaison officer Cpl. Crystal Evelyn said in the release. “In the parking lot, while loading their vehicle with the purchased items, a person distracted the victim while another person stole their wallet.” In this case, RCMP are looking for two suspects. The first was described as a Caucasian male, 6’ tall, 250 to 275 lb. with brown hair, and a moustache and beard. He was wearing a white shirt and shorts, and a camo ball cap. The second suspect is a female with an olive complexion, 5’4” tall, approximately 120 lb. with a slim build and long dark hair parted in the centre. She was wearing a white T-shirt with a black and white print on the front, and a dark blue or black ankle length skirt. RCMP said there was another case of theft and fraud earlier this summer involving the use of a PIN acquired while the victim was using their debit card. “Although it’s unknown if these incidents are connected in anyway, in both occurrences they involved the use of a stolen card, accompanied by a stolen corresponding pin number,” Cpl. Evelyn said. “Please always remember that not everyone behind you is trustworthy, even if they may look like they are. Making a habit out of covering up your pin number is a good way to help reduce being targeted by an opportunistic thief.” Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000 and reference file 2024-27423. To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander mailto:halexander@infonews.ca  or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tip@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .