The scam artists are at it again, and they are using a variety of tricks to separate victims from their money according to information released by the Estevan Police Service (EPS).
A large volume of calls have been made to the local police from people who had been informed they had won shopping trips at certain locations in the city.
There have also been calls regarding scams involving homes for rent where the perpetrator requests that cash be sent in advance so the person can fly down and give them the keys to the house they are apparently going to lease.
There is also the scam involving the purchase of an item. The scammer, purchasing the goods submits more money than requested then, in turn, asks the victim to deposit the cheque and forward the balance to them via Western Union. The worthless cheque is then discovered later.
EPS warns the public of the age old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," meaning that it is a scam and therefore any offers that don't comply with general acceptable business practises should be viewed with skepticism and caution.
During the past week, EPS members weren't just fielding calls regarding business schemes and scams, they were also tending to a lot of traditional business, including a vandalism incident on Aug. 19. The windshield of a van parked on the city's south side had been smashed so police set up an investigation.
Police also received a call from a motorist on Aug. 20 telling them he had witnessed one semi-trailer unit passing another semi in a very dangerous manner on Highway 39 between Estevan and Bienfait. The action forced an eastbound semi into the ditch. The offending semi was located and the driver was issued a ticket for his careless driving actions.
A woman came to police headquarters on Aug. 20 complaining that her debit card had been used without her authorization. This matter remains under investigation.
On Aug. 21 police stopped a vehicle due to the driver's erratic actions, and when they approached the vehicle they detected a strong alcoholic odour coming from the interior. The 25-year-old operator showed signs of impairment so a breathalyzer examination was taken, and both subjects in the vehicle were over the legal limit, so the operator was charged with impaired driving and driving while his blood-alcohol content was over .08 per cent. He has a Sept. 30 court date.
Another vehicle was stopped later that same evening, again due to erratic driving activity. The 22-year-old driver was tested and his blood-alcohol level also registered above the legal limit, so he was also charged accordingly and given a Sept. 30 court date.
On Aug. 22, EPS members attended to a local motel in response to a report of a lot of screaming and yelling in a room.
When they arrived, police discovered a 15-year-old girl who was very upset, so police took some time to talk with her while another officer spoke with a male in the room, her father. The two were eventually separated and the matter remains under investigation.
Also on Aug. 22, EPS members stopped a vehicle due to erratic driving activities and a 19-year-old driver admitted that he had been drinking and then driving. A breathalyzer sample was provided and the driver was issued a 24-hour driving suspension as a result of the test.
On Aug. 24, EPS members attended to a domestic dispute among members of a family in the city's east central area. The result of the intervention was the removal of an 18-year-old woman and her child and no further action was required.
A report of an assault taking place in a hotel in the central area of the city led to police action. Upon further investigation, a 39-year-old Calgary man was arrested and lodged in cells after being charged with three counts of assault.
