West Vancouver Police are advising residents to be on the alert for a familiar cheque scam.

West Vancouver Police have received a report from a resident who has received a cheque and letter package in the mail, asking the recipient to work as a "mystery shopper" in a test business that do wire transfers of money.

The savvy recipient contacted the well-known business provided as the employer and was advised that the recipient needed to report it to the local police.

West Vancouver Police have reviewed the package and have concluded the recipient was being set up for a very well-known fraud.

The scam involves the victim receiving a cheque by mail and being requested to deposit it into their personal account. They are then asked to transfer the money to a third party established by the scam artist. The cheques received by the recipients are fraudulent and the recipient then becomes a victim of fraud.

In this case, due to the quick thinking of the West Vancouver resident, no fraud was committed.

West Vancouver Police and the Better Business Bureau advise residents that no legitimate survey quality control company will contact you and ask you to transfer funds in this manner.

TIPS TO AVOID CHEQUE SCAMS

* Do not depend on the funds received from a cashier's cheque if you do not know the source.
* If there is no legitimate reason that you are asked to receive/transfer/wire money to a third party, do not do it!
* Consumers are financially responsible when depositing a fraudulent cheque and your financial institution will debit your account
accordingly

If you have been victimized by this scam or a similar scam, please contact the West Vancouver Police Department (604) 925-7300.