A Lundar business owner is warning other retailers to stay alert after a suspicious credit-card purchase nearly cost his shop thousands of dollars.
Randy’s Tire & Sport owner Randy Gudmundson said the incident began when his son, Carson, received a phone call from a man with a British Columbia area code who wanted to purchase four high-end semi-truck tires worth about $1,500 each.
Gudmundson said the customer attempted to pay with multiple credit cards. The first two were declined, but the third transaction went through, raising immediate concerns.
“Carson told me about it, and I just didn’t have a good feeling,” Gudmundson said.
Gudmundson phoned the buyer directly and requested photos of both sides of the credit card used for the purchase, along with a photo of the buyer’s driver’s licence — documentation he said is sometimes requested for large high-risk transactions.
The following day, a courier from Winnipeg arrived to pick up the tires, but the requested identification had still not been provided. Gudmundson refused to release the merchandise.
“I told the driver he had unfortunately wasted half his day driving to Lundar because the tires weren’t going anywhere,” he said.
Minutes later, Gudmundson said the buyer phoned back demanding to know why the tires were not on the truck returning to Winnipeg. When Gudmundson explained that the identification had never been sent, the caller became aggressive and verbally abusive before abruptly hanging up.
Gudmundson said while he felt bad for the courier, the alternative could have been a costly lesson.
“That would have been $6,000 out the window,” he said. “That wasn’t happening.”
Gudmundson said asking for verification likely prevented a fraudulent transaction and hopes other business owners will take note.
“If something doesn’t feel right, trust that instinct,” he said. “It can save you a lot of trouble.”
What to do if a sale doesn’t feel right
• Gudmundson encourages businesses — especially small rural retailers — to take extra precautions when dealing with large or unusual transactions:
• Pause the sale if multiple cards are declined or the buyer pressures for quick pickup.
• Request identification for high-value purchases, especially when shipping or using couriers.
• Verify details such as matching names, card numbers and ID.
• Refuse release of goods until all verification is complete.
• Report suspicious activity to your payment processor or local RCMP if fraud is suspected.
He said a short delay or uncomfortable conversation is far better than absorbing a major financial loss.
