Steinbach, Manitoba police are cautioning individuals about overpayment scams following a charity’s encounter with a scammer who sent a fake donation check, alleged an error in sending excess money, and requested a refund of thousands. Michelle Neufeld, president of Steinbach and Area Animal Rescue, disclosed that the organization was targeted by an overpayment scam last spring. An individual identifying as “Kevin Vance Owens” contacted the rescue via email inquiring about the donation process, expressing interest in donating thousands of dollars by check. Neufeld acknowledged receiving the check and depositing it. Subsequently, Kevin claimed that his assistant mistakenly sent a $4,000 check instead of the intended $2,000, with the surplus intended for another entity. Insistent on retrieving half the amount and obtaining a tax receipt, Kevin pressured Neufeld. Upon investigating the matter further, the charity discovered the check was fraudulent, preventing them from falling victim to the scam.
Although the animal rescue did not suffer financial losses, Neufeld mentioned that they included the scammer’s name on a sponsorship plaque, as a $4,000 donation would have qualified for a gold-level sponsorship. Neufeld emphasized the significance of the monetary value involved, emphasizing the distress caused by the incident. Moving forward, the charity plans to verify check clearances before issuing tax receipts. Steinbach RCMP Staff Sgt. Mike Maxwell highlighted the increasing reports of scams, including overpayment schemes, advising individuals to be vigilant. Fraudsters might manipulate victims by creating a sense of urgency to rush decision-making processes. Maxwell cautioned against unusual payment requests through methods like prepaid Visa cards, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, urging individuals to contact authorities or banks when faced with suspicious situations.
Earl Funk, mayor of Steinbach and owner of Earl’s Meat Market, revealed that his business incurred significant losses due to a suspected cyberscam. An email received by the market’s bookkeeper purported to be from Funk, requesting an electronic payment for an invoice under the guise that the supplier no longer accepted checks. Despite the unusual request, the bookkeeper processed the payment. After Funk’s wife discovered the transaction, efforts were made to halt the payment, with $8,300 sent in total across three transactions. While two payments were stopped, one transaction worth $3,000 went through, causing distress to the business. Funk expressed feeling violated by the incident and emphasized the ease with which cybercrime can occur. The market has since implemented new payment protocols, requiring approval from Funk or his wife before any transactions are initiated to prevent future occurrences. Funk reassured the community that preventive measures are in place to safeguard against similar incidents in the future.