A woman, tricked by a fake Good Samaritan, had her purse stolen in the parking lot of Northgate over the weekend.
Police are calling it the "Thumb-tacks in tires” scam and are warning holiday shoppers to be on guard.
North Bay police were called on Sunday, December 10, to the Northgate Shopping Centre parking lot on Fisher Street.
A female shopper entered her vehicle after completing her shopping, Immediately a man knocked on her window, indicating to her to roll it down.
"When she complied, the man advised her that there were thumb-tacks in and around her tires and that she should remove them," said Cst. Merv Shantz. "When the victim attended to her tires, she located several thumb-tacks and began to remove them. While she was doing this, the would-be good Samaritan reached through her open window and stole her purse."
Later in the day, the victim noticed her purse was missing and discovered that over $4,000 in unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals had been made shortly after the incident.
Police remind you to be vigilant of all types of scams.
Here is a list of tips to remain safe this holiday season.
- If someone you don’t know knocks on your vehicle window don’t open it
- Never leave your wallet or purse unattended, even for a second
- Use your cell phone to call police, if it’s a scam the person will leave
- Be aware of your surroundings and any interactions with someone you don’t know
- Report any suspicious banking activity immediately to your bank or credit card company
