Every year for the past 10 years, Susan Gapka has attempted to run the Toronto Waterfront Marathon half marathon. This year, however, all the tickets were sold before she could even register.
I was devastated. This is an important goal for me
she said.
The Ontarian therefore turned to the group Facebook you marathon Waterfront from Toronto to try to find someone who would like to sell him his bib. However, she quickly realized that fraudsters were trying to scam her.
People asked me if I had PayPal […] but I was firm and told them that I wanted to use the official platform Race Roster
she says.
The lady, who has been part of jogging groups for several years, had already seen warnings online against scammers’ schemes.
Joggers victims of the popularity of the marathon
The marathon Waterfront in Toronto is about two weeks away, but organizers say all tickets were sold out by August. The popularity of the event has, they say, attracted fraudsters, who hope to extort money from joggers looking for a valuable bib.
According to the event organizers, fraudsters take advantage of certain runners’ lack of knowledge of the online bib transfer system to extract money from them.
For example, fraudsters ask their victims to make an Interac transfer instead of using the official platform Race Roster. They can thus receive the money without ever sending a bib to their victims.
We continue to insist that the only way to [transférer un dossard] is through Race Roster
says the director of national events at Canada Running SeriesCharlotte Brookes.
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Hundreds of runners participate in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon each year. (Archive photo)
Photo: The Canadian Press / Jessica Lee
Race Roster allows the buyer to ensure that their money will only be transferred to the seller when the latter has also handed over their bib through the online platform. The buyer can then collect their bib through a link sent by email and the seller is reimbursed.
Selon Charlotte Brookes, Canada Running Series is aware of only a few cases of fraud.
However, she indicates that fraud attempts have been on the rise in recent years due to the growing popularity of the marathon.
Victims can file complaints online through the Toronto Police Service website, says Stephanie Miceli, a spokesperson for the police service.
How to avoid fraud?
Anti-fraud consultant Vanessa Iafolla explains that consumers can protect themselves against this type of scheme by taking a few precautions.
If someone makes you a tempting offer, take a moment to think about it, tell someone, and do a little research to make sure it’s an honest offer.
she said.
Do not proceed if there is a safer way to do it. The Toronto Waterfront Marathon has a vested interest in ensuring that people can transfer their bib securely so if someone is not using this system, ask yourself why.
It is also thanks to these types of precautions that Susan Gapka avoided falling into the net of fraudsters. She finally managed to find a bib through the platform Race Roster and will be able to continue their annual tradition while running for the charity of their choice.
The marathon Waterfront in Toronto will take place on October 19 and 20.
With information from CBC
