Protection Against Fraudulent Cheque Scams

What are cheque scams?

Cheque scams happen when a scammer issues an individual a realistic-looking cheque or money order and asks for cash in return. Some common scenarios that scammers fabricate include:

Lottery schemes
Overseas business offers
Online auction overpayments
Apartment rentals or roommates
Dating websites or romantic chatrooms
Work-at-home ads

Tips to help avoid cheque scams:

Be cautious of any offer that sounds too good to be true

Be cautious of any offer that requires you to purchase something, wire money, or provide account information in order to win a prize
Do not use contact information obtained from a letter or email received to verify the legitimacy of the information provided—use an independent verification process