Police were alerted about suspicious behaviour during a May 7 carnival at the fairgrounds at Beverly Street and the Trans-Canada Highway, said North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP Cpl. Krista Hobday.
A man was getting unusually close to people, Hobday said. With a skimmer, all he would have to do is hold the device close to a wallet or purse to get information that could then be transferred to a fraudulent card, she said.
She said the public is urged to keep wallets and purses in front of them — including carrying wallets in a front pocket — to foil skimmers. It is also advisable to do periodic checks of accounts to make sure there are no unauthorized expenses, she said.
The skimming suspect is described as white and in his late 20s with brown hair and scruffy facial hair.