A story yesterday shared a note of caution after alleged quick change artists were said to have targeted at least one local business in the city’s extreme West end on Saturday.
Now today Brandon Police Service have obtained and shared surveillance footage as it relates to the report:
Police at the same time shared that a report of a second alleged incident was received from during the same 5pm - 6pm time frame on Saturday evening. That incident, said to have taken place on the 1000 block of Richmond Avenue, is believed to be connected to the first. In each case a separate female is said to have left with in excess of $150.
A spokesperson for Brandon Police shared with me today the importance that retailers be aware of the scam and to know that there is no obligation to make change in these cases. If choosing to make change, proper money-handling procedures should be followed. Any retailer that feels they may have also been victim are encouraged to review video surveillance as shared images can be of assistance to others within the area as well as other jurisdictions.
Anyone with information regarding the female shown in the video is asked to contact Police at 204-729-2345 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-727-TIPS (8477).
During a notice on a similar alleged scam last year, quick change scams were described by Police as:
“The quick change scam typically involves a con artist who confuses a cashier by paying with a large denomination bill or numerous bills, and then changes their mind several times about how he/she wants the change returned to him or the denominations of currency returned.”