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Swindler posing as mayor in telephone begging scam

Mayor Ian Sutherland is not calling people up to solicit financial help for his family - but someone else is apparently doing so as part of a bizarre scam.

Mayor Ian Sutherland is not calling people up to solicit financial help for his family - but someone else is apparently doing so as part of a bizarre scam.

"It's almost unbelievable," said Sutherland after hearing that a man impersonating him was using a hard luck story to solicit funds. "I guess what it shows is that there are people who are willing to do almost anything to get money out of other people."

Sutherland discovered the telephone scam only after two targeted businesses phoned him with suspicions and to ask if he "was okay", concerned that his family was somehow facing difficulties.

The imposter said the funds were to "aid a family situation," according to an RCMP report. "This fraudulent male, who is not Mayor Ian Sutherland, has requested that monies be deposited in a Western Union or Money Mart account."

The scam is similar to one attempted last year when an imposter posed as a First Nations Chief to get hard luck money out of Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe. Lowe wasn't as suspicious as most recent targets, and did send money before discovering he'd been defrauded.

"It's unfortunate that people take advantage of people's good nature and goodwill," said Sutherland. "It makes it that when people really are in need of something, people would hesitate to help because they hear stories like this one."

RCMP is reminding residents to be aware of telephone scams and to be wary if the individual addresses you by your first name and asks personal questions.

Anyone with information relating to this scam is asked to contact Squamish RCMP Cst. John Marinis at 604-892-6100.

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