The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Fraud Squad has issued a public advisory warning business owners, retailers, service providers and members of the public to remain vigilant against criminals using fraudulent cheques to obtain goods and services.
According to the advisory, released Thursday, fraudsters present counterfeit, altered, forged or stolen cheques as payment, often creating a sense of urgency by requesting that goods be released or delivered immediately. Businesses that release goods before confirming a cheque has successfully cleared may suffer significant financial losses when the cheque is later returned unpaid.
The TTPS said fraudsters typically follow a pattern: requesting quotations for large orders by telephone or WhatsApp, then presenting a fraudulent cheque to purchase high-value goods or services. In some cases, they present only a screenshot of a fraudulent cheque or deposit slip and claim payment has already been processed or will clear shortly.
Fraudsters often pressure staff to release goods immediately, citing an alleged emergency or urgent deadline, and may arrange for a third party or courier to collect the goods before the cheque is dishonoured. They may also provide false identification or inaccurate contact information to avoid detection, and frequently time orders for Friday afternoons or the day before a public holiday, timing intended to prevent businesses from conducting proper verification.
The TTPS outlined several red flags businesses should watch for, including large orders placed over WhatsApp or telephone, customers insisting on taking possession of goods before a cheque clears, and cheques that appear altered, damaged or otherwise inconsistent.
Other warning signs include purchasers who are reluctant to provide valid identification or who send identification via WhatsApp, which the TTPS noted is usually fraudulent, as well as cases where the name on the cheque differs from the purchaser’s identification or business details. Unusually large purchases without a clear business rationale, and customers who become impatient or apply pressure to complete transactions quickly, were also flagged as indicators of potential fraud.
The TTPS Fraud Squad is urging businesses to never release goods or provide services until a cheque has fully cleared and funds have been confirmed by their financial institution. Businesses should carefully inspect any physically handed-over cheques for alterations, erasures, spelling errors, inconsistent fonts or missing security features.
Additional recommendations include maintaining detailed records of all cheque transactions including invoices, customer information, identification details and vehicle registration numbers where applicable, installing and maintaining CCTV systems, training employees to identify suspicious transactions, and encouraging customers to use secure electronic payment methods such as ACH for high-value purchases.
Businesses that believe they have been targeted by cheque fraud are advised to preserve the cheque and all related documentation, save CCTV footage, receipts, invoices, emails and text messages, and record descriptions of suspects, vehicles used and any witnesses. Victims are urged to report incidents to the nearest police station or the TTPS Fraud Squad as soon as possible.