Thieves trying to cash in on grief in Sicamous

by Dave Preston

Malicious thieves are trying to cash in on a family’s tragic loss in the Shuswap.

Sicamous RCMP is warning that a telephone scam is emerging tied to the recent deaths of a Sicamous father and his two young children.

Fraudsters have apparently set up an automated telephone soliciting line that prompts people to record their credit card information in order to make a donation to Kara Wagner.

It was was Wagner’s fiance and children that died in a tragic mobile home fire in Sicamous last weekend.

“It is truly a very dark side of human nature when we see an individual or group of individuals taking advantage of victims involved in such tragic incidents in addition to stealing from the good heartedness of others who seek only to help a person like Kara,” said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

Legitimate charitable societies, no matter whether big or small, do not operate by automated phone soliciting, said Moskaluk.

RCMP is warning the public not to give out personal banking or credit card information in order to donate in this manner.

“Please verify as to who you are dealing with,” said Moskaluk. “Charitable organizations always encourage you to consider donating after you are well informed as to who they are.”