POLICE have advised merchants to use extreme caution in accepting credit cards for payment from overseas clients. Con men are using forged credit cards to purchase expensive items from stores, with retailers only discovering after the merchandise has been sent that the financial information they have been given is worthless.

A spokesperson issued the warning yesterday, highlighting the need for merchants to follow established security practices.

"The Bermuda Police Service wishes to inform local businesses of a current fraudulent practice that is being perpetrated by fraudsters from overseas," the spokesperson said.

"A local business has been faxed photocopies of credit cards with accompanying overseas passport photo ID, with a request to purchase a high-value item. The high-value item is shipped overseas, only to find that the credit card is a forgery, and the information it purports to represent is from a previously stolen or 'skimmed' credit card."