Fraudulent cheques in circulation — fisher folks and farmers targetted

THE Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources has sent out an urgent call to fisher folks and farmers to be on the alert for persons buying agricultural and fisheries equipment and vehicles using fraudulent managers cheques. “Unsuspecting farmers and especially fisher folks have sold vehicles and vessels, receiving managers cheques, but when attempting to change these cheques, they were deemed bogus,” Martin Ford, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry said.

“The ministry advises all stakeholders to verify the authenticity of all managers cheques before proceeding on any transactions.” According to reports, the cheques came from one bank and have been on the market over the last two weeks. To date, local stakeholders have been ripped off of over $175,000 with fraudulent cheques. Sources also told Newsday the perpetrators appear to be a ring of men well versed in the needs for agriculture and fishing. The matter is now in the hands of the Fraud Squad.