RCMP in Salmon Arm are warning residents about a scam which has shown up in the area.

Corporal Harley Belt says the scam asks for people interested in becoming a ‘Mystery Shopper’ by advertising in a local paper.

“There is a website address listed to access to get further details. Accessing the website a person is asked to submit personal details on how to be contacted with other information. Within a day or two an “employment package’ arrives by courier or express post. In it is a survey form which again is asking for more personal details, a fake business survey and a cheque or bank draft for $2,500,” says Belt.

He says the person is directed to cash the cheque or bank draft and then go to Western Union office to transmit $2,225 of the cash to another location.

“The employee is to keep $200 for their work and another $175 goes to Western Union for their service charge. The problem is that the cheque or bank draft is fake. The employee finds out days or weeks later that the cheque or draft failed and they now owe their bank the full $2,500.”

Harley says the police are unable to track the scammers because they have used fake identities and addresses as well and that Western Union does not track who receives the cash at the other end of the transfer.

“The victim may be stuck for S2,300 or more for the deposit of the fake voucher. If depositing any draft or cheque, it is suggested that you first ask the bank to verify the document and even then do not withdraw any funds from that amount until the draft or cheque clears the drawn account and the funds are into your own account.”