The Lethbridge Police Service is advising of a business scam that recently occurred in the community. (Image Credit: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

LPS warns of business fraud after recent incident

Jan 28, 2026 | 1:42 PM

The Lethbridge Police Service (LPS) says a local business was defrauded out of nearly $20,000, and they are offering tips to prevent further scams.

On Jan. 15, 2026, they say a company received three large orders for parts over the phone.

Payments for each transaction were made using multiple credit cards. Arrangements were made with a third-party courier to pick the items up.

After the items were released, LPS says the business was contacted by a person who advised them that their credit card information had been compromised and that the charges were not authorized.

It became apparent that the other credit cards used in the transactions had been stolen.

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Police intercepted the third-party courier, who advised that he had been hired through an online ad to provide delivery services.

LPS says, “Police would like to remind job-seekers to guard against fraudulent courier work as it may be associated to crime.”

READ MORE: LPS investigating job posting scam with illegal work

Business owners and employees are advised to watch for red flags and take extra precautions, especially when taking orders over the phone.

LPS provided the following tips to help prevent fraud:

Verify new customers:

• Take steps to verify the legitimacy of a new customer – do a little more research than a basic online search
• Independently confirm phone numbers using trusted sources – do not rely solely on call display or contact information provided by the customer

Multiple credit cards:

• The use of multiple credit cards for a single transaction, particularly for high-value purchases, should be treated as a warning sign

Slow the release of goods:

• Just because the credit card clears right away, does not mean it’s all clear.
• Consider implementing a delay between when payment is received and when merchandise is released by the business

Anyone who feels that they may have been targeted by this type of scam is asked to contact the Lethbridge Police Service at 403-328-4444 to file a report.