Comox Valley RCMP says they became aware this week of a complex employment fraud being perpetrated locally.
It appears that several other island communities have been exposed to the scam as well, Const. Dean Biollo added in a news release.
Recently, advertisements have been placed in local newspapers and online job boards offering employment as a Bookkeeper/Administrative assistant for a non-existent business in the name of Tint Ceramics operating out of New York.
The “company” is supported by an impressive-looking website at www.tintceramics.com to add credibility to the scam.
After several e-mail correspondences a job offer is made to the unsuspecting applicant. As part of the employment the new hire is required to process customer payments and order supplies from China.
A good-quality fraudulent CIBC bank draft is eventually received by the new hire for several thousand dollars, cashed at a local bank and a large portion of the funds sent by Western Union or Moneygram to a tile supplier. The draft is later determined to be fraudulent and the victim is held responsible by the bank involved for the loss of funds.
This fraud appears to be initiated out of Ghana, Africa.
Police want to remind people that there are many variations of this type of fraud. The scam will usually include a payment made to the victim of a fraudulent check or draft, and subsequent return of funds made via Western Union or Moneygram to a third party.
— Comox Valley RCMP