Warning of scam over working from home

Dec 18 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

A SOPHISTICATED scam offering people the chance to work from home has been targeted by police.

Detectives in Durham issued a warning yesterday about companies using only an email address after complaints from two men, aged 54 and 60, from Bishop Auckland.

The men responded to an advert in a local newspaper offering the chance to work via the internet.

After an exchange of emails, the men were sent US travellers cheques and advised to bank them, take 10% and send the remainder to an address in southern England.

They were told they would later be sent some cash. But when they tried to bank the cheques, bank staff told them they were poor quality forgeries.

Det Const Peter Lonsdale, of Bishop Auckland CID, said: “We would urge people to be extremely cautious of responding to adverts when only an email address is given, since it is impossible to know that the people are who they say they are.

“No reputable company would place an advert with only an email address. Fortunately, nobody lost any money this time, but in future people might not be so lucky.”