Fraudulent gift cards, certificates and discounted coupons for a hair salon are circulating on Carleton’s campus and other Ottawa post-secondary schools, according to the department of university safety.
Allan Burns, Carleton’s director of university safety, said these gift cards are unusable.
“What we’re hearing of is a gift card for a place that doesn’t exist,” he said. “People went to try and cash the card; [however], there was no place to do that.”
The victims have been approached by professionally-dressed individuals selling massively discounted gift cards to regional salons. These individuals have been canvassing door-to-door and at common gathering places like cafeterias at post-secondary institutions.
The sellers appear very authentic, Burns said.
“They’re professional enough that you can pay with your VISA or Mastercard, so it looks very legitimate.”
Carleton’s doesn’t permit for door-to-door sellers, according to campus safety. Victims of fraud or anyone with further details are encouraged to contact campus safety.
