Peel - Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau would like to caution the public about ongoing fraudulent American Express traveller's cheques scams.

Investigators have received numerous complaints where victims have been scammed into cashing or receiving fraudulent American Express traveller's cheques. There are several different forms of the scam with the following being the newest to be investigated.

Victims would agree to attend a financial institution and cash the American Express traveller's cheques in exchange to receive a portion of the cheque as payment.

In some cases, they will agree to make purchases for the scammers. Once the purchases are made, the victims are re-paid with the cheques. These cheques are valued at more than the purchases so the victim feels that they are earning money for their troubles.

Once the transactions are complete, the victim would subsequently discover that the cheque(s) are fraudulent and the victim(s) are then responsible for the amount of the cheque. 

These fraudulent American Express traveller's cheques have been identified as part of a world wide organized crime scheme and there is never any person to contact, as all contact is made via the mail system or Western Union.

Peel Regional Police would like remind the public to verify the authenticity of the cheque before acting upon it and that offers that are "too good to be true", usually are.

For further information contact the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3335.