Beware of the short-changing scam

If you remember the early episodes of the long-running TV series “Cheers” you might relate to this story.

Harry “The Hat” — played by Harry Anderson — was an occasional patron at Cheers, who had a skill for befuddling staff and bar customers, and scamming them out of their money.

Nova Scotia RCMP is hoping to identify a person of interest in a short-changing scam, where the first of two incidents occurred Tuesday in Barrington Passage. A man matching the description given from a previous incident entered a coffee shop in Hantsport Thursday at 4 p.m., asked for change for a $50 bill, confused the clerk, and left the shop with a coffee, his original $50, and two $20 bills.

Surveillance video was obtained, and witnesses and police feel the person involved in the Hantsport incident is the same as the one from the Barrington incident.

Nova Scotia RCMP would like the public’s assistance to locate and identify this person. Employees who handle cash are reminded to be mindful and vigilant of this scam.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact Windsor District RCMP at 902-798-2207. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you can also contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477) or text TIP202 + your message to ‘CRIMES’ (274637) or submit tips at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca.