A little knowledge went a long way towards protecting a Salmon Arm resident from a potential scam.
John Strobl received a phone call Wednesday evening from a woman he describes as pleasant and soft-spoken.
The woman asked him if he would donate to the children’s ward at the Salmon Arm Hospital, like he did last year.
But Strobl was aware of two important facts: Shuswap Lake General Hospital doesn’t have a children’s ward and he didn’t make the $50 donation to any such organization last year.
“I know what I spent donating to charity and that wasn’t part of it,” he says. “I feel like I was being scammed.”
When Strobl pointed this out, the caller hung up.
“I just want people to be aware, so they don’t get taken,” he says.
The RCMP advise anyone who believes that they have been the target of a phone scam to call The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free) or email info@antifraudcentre.ca.