CALGARY (Nov. 4, 2026) -- The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to be on the lookout for a credit card scam currently operating in Alberta.
“Fraudsters are contacting local businesses and purchasing high value goods using stolen and fraudulent credit cards,” says Mary O'Sullivan-Andersen, President and CEO of BBB Alberta and East Kootenay. “This scam was targeting the trucking industry in Saskatchewan last month and now it’s circulating in Alberta.”
She adds, “A transaction can be approved and then cancelled. This can happen when a preliminary approval is provided by the issuer but a fraud or identification warning is later triggered which may freeze or cancel the initial approval.”
How it works:
The caller provides credit card information over the phone, with the transaction initially appearing to be approved and pending. Businesses are then directed to ship the products by courier. After the items have been shipped the transaction is declined and the business is left without payment.
Red flags:
- Be cautious when a customer tries to use multiple cards to make a purchase
- Be cautious when a customer makes multiple orders of the same product, especially big-ticket items
- Be cautious when the customer demands rush delivery
- Be cautious when the billing address doesn’t match the shipping address
- Be cautious when the name of the buyer and the card holder don’t match.
Protect your business:
- Use verification services such of the credit card network companies
- Contact your credit card processor and ensure security measures are established
- Always verify the identity of a customer
- Report suspected fraud to the police
“This type of fraud can quickly amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses,” says O’Sullivan-Andersen. “All businesses should implement protocols to verify a customer's identity and the credit card information being provided.”