Prince Albert police have received new reports of attempted mail fraud and are reminding citizens to exercise caution.
The scam revolves around an authentic-looking cheque sent to recipients with the conceit that the victim is a “mystery shopper.” Despite the correspondence bearing the name of a real company called “Tiffany Gate Foods,” the actual company is a legitimate business that has reacted with horror at being associated with the scam.
The victim is invited to cash the cheque, use some of the funds for personal shopping, and send the balance via a Western Union wire transfer to other “mystery shoppers.” The cheque is then returned as non-negotiable, with the victim responsible for the total amount of whatever money has been spent and any that has been wired away.
Several similar attempts at fraud have appeared recently with the same theme of cashing a cheque, using some of the proceeds for personal use and wiring the balance on to a third party. Police remind citizens that no reputable company does business in this manner and that if something appears “too good to be true,” it probably is.
