ASSINIBOIA — A local business is warning other Saskatchewan companies to remain vigilant after a fraud scheme involving over-the-phone purchases and chargebacks resulted in what the business estimates to be a roughly $20,000 loss.
Great West Auto Electric/Bumper to Bumper shared details of the incident in a social media video posted earlier this month.
According to co-owner Leanne Tuntland-Wiebe, the suspects ordered multiple Milwaukee tool sets over the phone using a credit card, picked up the merchandise in person and later disputed the charges through the credit card company after leaving town. The resulting chargebacks left the Assiniboia business responsible for the losses.
Tuntland-Wiebe said the business did not initially realize anything was wrong.
“We didn’t know this had happened until the bookkeeper was doing the bank reconciliation on May 13,” Tuntland-Wiebe told the Assiniboia Times.
She added the business received no calls from the credit card company regarding the chargebacks before the issue was discovered internally.
Tuntland-Wiebe said the matter was reported to both Assiniboia RCMP and police in Swift Current.
In a statement, the Saskatchewan RCMP confirmed the matter remains under investigation.
“On May 15, 2026, Assiniboia RCMP received a report that a business had been defrauded,” RCMP said.
According to Tuntland-Wiebe, after the video circulated online, other businesses from Frontier, Shaunavon and north of Saskatoon contacted the company describing similar situations involving the same business name and individual.
“GCL Construction and the person who made the phone call used the same name. James Matthew,” she said. “Last night a company north of Saskatoon reached out with a similar situation and wanted to advise me on how they took action. After that I was sent a message that the crooks had been in Stettler [Alberta] as well.”
“GCL Construction,” according to Tuntland-Wiebe, was the name used by the suspects. No further information about the company was immediately available.
Tuntland-Wiebe said the company’s electronic payment provider offered little immediate assistance after the fraudulent transactions were discovered.
“It is very maddening that three large chargebacks didn’t get flagged by our credit card machine company, with or without a box being ticked. No phone call attempts were made by them or our financial institution, although now our credit union has opened a file on this and will see who initiated the chargeback.”
The purchases were made in January and February.
Tuntland-Wiebe said the company has insurance coverage for fraud, but the situation may fall into an exclusion clause.
“We have fraud coverage but this situation may fall into exclusion clause, which is frustrating as well because we pay for fraud coverage.”
She said the business estimates the loss at approximately $20,000, which she described as significant for a company of their size.
“We can only provide the name James Matthew. GCL Construction. The two phone numbers don’t work and the email won’t go anywhere. They drive a white truck pulling a white trailer. There were three men when they picked up the tools. The trailer will be full of tools as we’re not the only business being targeted. And it seems to be Milwaukee everywhere. They’re buying combo kits that can be broken down and sold on social media.”
The incident has already prompted immediate policy changes for the business.
“There will be no purchase by credit card over the phone unless the customer is known to us,” Tuntland-Wiebe said.
“If the crook/caller is insistent, they will be told to produce the credit card used at the time they are trying to pick up product, and personal identification has to match the credit card. Shaunavon did this and the perp hung up. They can’t produce identification to match a stolen credit card. Unfortunately, this hurts potential new legitimate customers as references will be required and it will be harder to place orders over the phone.”
Tuntland-Wiebe added they are continuing to investigate possible leads connected to contractors who may have hired the suspects.
“If we can find out who the contractor is for that project, we should be able to contact them and find out who they had working for them. It will take some investigating.”
She also thanked residents and businesses who have reached out with information and support.
“I really want to thank everyone who is reaching out,” she said.
The allegations have not been proven in court.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Assiniboia RCMP by dialing 310-7267. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
