Published Apr 09, 2025 • 4 minute readDaniel Meister, owner of Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour, is warning local businesses that even if an email seems legitimate, to be cautious – it could be a scammer. That’s what happened to him in February, after sending $5,000 to an email appearing to be the business’s cup supplier. Everything looked legitimate at first glance, except for a different email, which he didn’t notice until it was too late. Kristin Gardiner Journal PioneerSUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Daniel Meister is no stranger to the scam email.The proprietor of Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour in Summerside considers himself a smart, Internet-savvy person and never believed he or his business would fall victim to such manipulation.“Pretty much, it’s gotten to the point where, if I don’t recognize the sender, I don’t really trust the email, I don’t respond to it, I don’t click on links. That’s the world we live in,” said Meister.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle content“The tricky part of this was, it seemed to be coming from a trusted source that I’d worked with in the past. That’s how they were able to slip under my radar.”After losing $5,000 to a fraudulent email – portraying itself as Meister’s cup supplier – he is speaking out, hoping to prevent other local businesses from losing out on their money, as well.In December, Meister had reached out to his regular supplier asking for a quote. As the shop was under renovation at the time, though, Meister put the transaction on hold until February.Then when February rolled around, he received an email claiming to follow up on the order. The invoice was identical and the communication with what turned out to be a scammer lined up with prior communication with the supplier, right down to the company logo and address. All that was different, said Meister, was a different email – which he didn’t notice at the time – and different banking information.But the scammer claimed they’d changed banks, so Meister sent the $5,000.Article contentEverything appeared legitimate, until days later, the scammer re-emailed Meister claiming they hadn’t received payment. But it had been taken out of Meister’s bank, so he refused to send more.“That’s when I’d kinda gotten suspicious, did a little bit of digging, realized the email had changed,” said Meister.SCAM UNCOVEREDAfter realizing the February email seemed suspicious, Meister responded, CC’ing his supplier through the email he had on hand. Only then did he fully learn he had been scammed and clued into the small signs that had appeared off.“There were just some inconsistencies in the emails,” he said. “I don’t know if they were managing multiple scams at once, or there’s multiple people managing the emails, but there were just some details. They’d send me one email, and a couple hours later, they’d send me another email with different details.”Meister contacted the police and checked the security on his laptop to ensure there was no spyware installed. Fortunately, everything on his end was clean, so he suspects it was the email system that was compromised, and he has since found a more secure way to communicate with his supplier.Article contentAs for the $5,000, Meister doubts he’ll ever recover it.“Hindsight’s 20/20, so you look back like, ‘Oh, that’s stupid that I missed these details,’” he said. “It’s really embarrassing. Frustration.” After sending $5,000 to a scammer purporting to be Holman’s Ice Cream Parlour’s cup supplier, owner Daniel Meister is speaking out, hoping to make other local business owners aware that being scammed can happen to anyone. Kristin Gardiner Journal PioneerWHAT TO DOScott Ferris, senior communications advisor for the P.E.I. RCMP, said that businesses and individuals alike should be vigilant when it comes to potential scams.“When it comes to businesses, small businesses in particular, fraud prevention – and this case is a classic example of this for sure – you really want to verify any invoices or request for payment by confirming them with someone who’s a known contact,” said Ferris.“It never hurts to call a supplier back and say, ‘Hey, I just got this from you, is this accurate, is this correct?’”Often, said Ferris, suppliers and banks may ask for authorization for financial transactions, such as a password. Some signs to look out for to avoid a scam email, he said, would be to check that people are who they say they are, and to be cautious of unsolicited offers or changes in payment methods.Article contentIf someone believes they may have fallen victim to a scam, Ferris said they should contact their local police and their financial institution.“Just try to keep as best records as possible about the entire transaction,” he said. “To be able to have some sort of evidence trail, as well, is always helpful.”‘IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE’Although the scam has concluded and Meister has sorted out the cup situation with his actual supplier, he still worries about where the money has gone and how it’s being used.“I hope that it’s some desperate dad somewhere who’s using this money to feed his kids and this felt like the only way to get ahead,” he said. “My guess? It’s probably some organized crime, that the money’s, unfortunately, going to funding additional crime.”Meister has also made a post on Facebook alerting business owners of the scam. Another business he knows who uses the same supplier hadn’t faced a similar situation to Holman’s, but he had heard from other businesses and individuals who have been scammed, as well.“I think there’s an element of shame and embarrassment to being scammed, that leads people to hide the fact that they’re scammed, which can lead to further scams,” said Meister.“So (I’m) just putting this out there to say that I’m a young businessman, I think I’m pretty smart. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”Article content
Summerside business speaking out after losing $5,000 to sophisticated scam
