Saskatchewan RCMP are investigating a fraud scheme that has targeted companies supplying the heavy‑duty trucking and transportation industry, and they are urging businesses to be vigilant after at least a dozen firms across the province reported suspicious phone orders.
How the scheme worked
Investigators with the Central District General Investigation Section began looking into the matter in March after multiple reports of unusual orders. In the incidents described to police, callers placed phone orders for items such as tyres, engine oil and trailer parts. Callers provided credit‑card details that initially appeared to be approved, and businesses shipped the merchandise via courier.
In subsequent days the businesses discovered the card payments had been declined and no funds were received. Police say the tactic has mainly affected businesses that supply or service the heavy‑duty trucking sector, including automotive parts retailers, tyre shops and fuel distributors.
Scope and locations affected
RCMP have identified 12 Saskatchewan businesses as victims so far. The agencies named the following communities as having affected businesses:
- Battleford
- Weyburn
- Hudson Bay
- Kindersley
- Biggar
- Assiniboia
- White Butte
- Moosomin
- Cudworth
- Onion Lake
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Number of reported victim businesses | 12 |
| Sector mainly affected | Heavy‑duty trucking and transportation suppliers |
| Investigation led by | Central District General Investigation Section, Saskatchewan RCMP |
Investigation and cross‑jurisdictional links
RCMP say the investigation has reached beyond Saskatchewan, with related incidents identified elsewhere in Western Canada. Officers are working with other police agencies as they piece together the pattern of calls and transactions.
No charges have been laid to date. Authorities believe additional businesses may have been targeted but not yet reported losses.
What police advise businesses to do
RCMP are reminding business owners and staff to treat unusual or rushed phone orders with caution. Practical steps suggested by police include verifying customer details and payment before releasing goods, and reporting any suspicious orders — even if no financial loss has yet occurred.
- Verify payment — ensure cards or payment methods clear before shipping high‑value items.
- Confirm identity — call back using a publicly listed number for the company placing the order.
- Hold shipments — when payments appear pending or are declined, delay dispatch until the transaction is fully approved.
- Report incidents — contact local RCMP or your police service to document suspicious activity.
Police specifically asked businesses that received suspicious orders — regardless of whether they experienced a loss — to come forward so investigators can better assess the scope of the fraud and identify trends that may assist ongoing enquiries.
Local impact
For many suppliers that serve the province's trucking routes and freight operators, sudden losses of stock and unpaid orders can compound already thin margins. Smaller shops and independent distributors that keep limited inventory are particularly vulnerable to tactics that rely on speed and surprise.
Officers emphasised that while the investigation continues, preventing fraud often starts with small procedural changes at the point of sale and in dispatch routines. For businesses serving long supply chains and time‑sensitive customers, the pressure to move goods quickly is real — but RCMP warn that speed should not trump verification.
The Central District General Investigation Section continues to gather information. Businesses with relevant information are asked to contact their local RCMP detachment.
Wade Cardinal, NEXO RADAR
