Nelson Sergerie, LJI Jounalist

CHANDLER—The vigilance of two employees at the Super C supermarket in Chandler prevented a woman from losing $5,000 when she was targeted by a Grandparent Scam.

The attempted fraud occurred in recent weeks, when there was a wave of similar scams and fake representatives in the Chandler and Gaspé area.

“The woman wanted to send money to another country for her granddaughter. She wasn’t 100% sure why she was sending the funds. All she knew was that it was for legal fees,” says Léa Roy, an administrative assistant who was working at the cash register when the woman made her request.
The woman wanted to send a total of $5,000 to five different people outside the country.

“It didn’t make any sense. I asked her if she had spoken to her granddaughter. We spoke to her and managed to convince her that it was a fraudulent transfer. After that, we directed her to the police station, as we always do when this happens,” adds store manager Simon Roy-Grenier.
The victim was not easily persuaded.

“At first, she didn’t agree. She really wanted to send the funds. She couldn’t believe it and didn’t understand how it could be so realistic. We never know if they’re going to go somewhere else or to the police station. Obviously, she didn’t make the transfer, and that’s a good thing,” adds the manager.

The Sûreté du Québec praised the actions of the two employees who prevented the customer from losing a large sum of money.

“This is becoming more and more common in our area. It’s a collective responsibility. We are stepping up our prevention efforts. The Super C employees were on the front line,” explains Sergeant Isabelle Cyr, local community police coordinator at the Sûreté du Québec station in the Rocher-Percé MRC.

“This is to highlight their kindness and dedication,” she stresses, explaining the reason for awarding the employees with certificates.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing.