Shoppers Drug Mart customers target of Canada-wide scam

A telephone scam that claims to be connected to Shoppers Drug Mart is sweeping the nation with people in Ontario and in New Brunswick worried about the security of their personal information.

CBC News has spoken to several people who received the calls over the past month.

They say the calls appear to originate from local numbers and once answered, a recorded message tells recipients they have won a free trip from Shoppers Drug Mart.

Individuals are then connected to a live operator who asks for their credit card information.

Shoppers Drug Mart spokeswoman Lana Gogas said the company, recently purchased by Loblaw Inc., has contacted the RCMP to investigate.

Many stores, including some in Ottawa, have also posted signs warning customers about the scam.

Gogas said the company would never ask for credit card information over the phone.

"We are just telling people that this is indeed fraud. Shoppers Drug Mart would never ask for credit card information over the phone, ever. The contest that they are referring to does not even exist at Shoppers Drug Mart currently," she said.

"If anybody is worried about or has provided personal information they [should] just contact their credit card provider immediately."

The RCMP has told people to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre with any complaints.