AN alleged credit card fraudster has swindled two North Vancouver rental companies over the last few months by renting equipment with a fake credit card, according to police.
After the suspect failed to return a rented pressure washer, workers at a company realized they had been scammed, according to police.
The suspect is described as a blond-haired Caucasian male in his late teens, approximately 57. He is associated with a grey, 2010, four-door Toyota Matrix.
"This speaks to the importance for business owners to be extra vigilant and thorough when processing a transaction with credit cards," said North Vancouver RCMP spokesman Cpl. Richard De Jong in a release. Businesses should ask for photo identification before accepting a credit card, according to the RCMP.
Police also advise examining the signature on the credit card to see if it's smeared, which could be indicative of tampering. Calling for authorization of the credit card and comparing the signature on the card with the customer's John Hancock can also help prevent fraud.
