People believed to be involved in scam of pretending to be disabled to get donations in Kelowna and Vernon. (submitted photos/RCMP)

By Pete McIntyre

RCMP

Police warn of scammers pretending to be disabled in Okanagan

Mar 19, 2024 | 4:00 PM

RCMP in the Okanagan are alerting the public about a possible team of fraudsters who are pretending to have disabilities in order to collect money for an alleged charity.

The first incident was reported to police on March 17, 2024.

An individual called West Kelowna RCMP about two suspicious women in the parking lot of a business in the 3600-block of Carrington Road.

“The witness was approached by two women with blue clipboards who claimed to be deaf and asked for cash toward an alleged charity. Suspicious of the two, the witness declined and would later observe the two communicating between each other seemingly without disability before observing them asking other bystanders again for money, but with communication difficulty,” RCMP Cpl. Michael Gauthier said.

The second incident on March 18, was in Vernon.

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Two male and two female suspects were said to be travelling around different mall locations in the Vernon area posing as persons with disabilities and collecting money for an alleged charity.

“The four are also believed to be working together simultaneously distracting mall employees while another managed to steal five Apple iPhones from one particular store location,” Gauthier informed.

Police say the four individuals are believed to be the same suspects who committed identical offences in the Lake Louise and Banff, Alberta areas on March 8, 2024.

Photos of the female suspects were taken by the witness in West Kelowna. Photos of the male suspects were captured on CCTV in Vernon.

“These individuals are believed to be in the greater Okanagan area or possibly heading toward Alberta,” Gauthier said.

Anyone who encounters the individuals and believe they are committing an offence including fraudulently asking for charity donations, are asked to contact your local police office immediately and make note of any associated vehicles.

Anyone with information as to their identity or whereabouts are asked to phone the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference Kelowna RCMP File 2024-13913. You may also report information anonymously to the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.net.

by Pete McIntyre

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