The Sechelt Indian Band (SIB) and Sunshine Coast RCMP are warning local businesses to beware of scam artists posing as Chief Garry Feschuk, asking for money.
On Sept 17, Beatrice Sorensen, director of finance, for the Sunshine Coast Community Services Society (SCCSS), received a call from a man identifying himself as Feschuk.
He told Sorensen that he was in Port Hardy where an 18-month-old granddaughter of former Chief Stan Dixon had just died. He asked Sorensen to wire money via Western Union so the baby's father in Vancouver could purchase a plane ticket to fly to Port Hardy.
Sorensen then received a call from a man, in tears, calling himself Dave, the baby's father.
"Oh my gosh, I felt so bad for him," Sorensen said.
Sorensen was able to arrange with SCCSS staff to send $376 to the man posing as Feschuk, who accepted the money and disappeared.
This is not the first time scam artists have preyed on businesses using the name of Band leadership.
"It seems that every year now, there is some sort of scam artist out there either calling from Vancouver and from Vancouver Island claiming to be Chief Feschuk and they request local businesses to provide them with money," said Rochelle Baptiste, executive director for SIB. "They are very manipulative and creative with their scams."
Baptiste said it has been upsetting for Feschuk that scam artists would use his name.
"I think the local businesses have respect for our chief and know that he wouldn't be calling unless he needed something. Obviously these people are pretty crafty," she said. "He's very sympathetic to the local business and is really troubled about it."
Baptiste said if any other businesses are contacted by someone claiming to be Feschuk, to not send money and to call the band office at 604-885-2273 and to call RCMP at 604- 885-2266.
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