Fraudsters are targeting Bermuda residents looking for love on Internet dating sites in order to swindle them out of thousands of dollars.

Con artists posing as potential soulmates have persuaded victims to cash American Express travellers cheques for them and wire the funds. However, the cheques have turned out to be fakes, leaving their 'dates' badly out of pocket.

According to Detective Sergeant David Geraghty of the Bermuda Police Fraud Unit, three men and two women from Bermuda have fallen victim so far this year, with losses approaching $10,000.

The criminals spin various tales to get the cheques cashed and money wired back to them, such as that they don't have a bank account, they live in a country that doesn't accept travellers cheques or that it is a 'work from home' opportunity for the victim who can keep ten percent of the funds.

"After contacting the person via the dating site they will send them a photograph of a reasonably attractive member of the opposite sex and purport to be that person and will often establish a relationship on the Internet," explained Det. Sgt. Geraghty.

"In one incident, a man received contact on a dating site, and got sent a photo. A relationship got built, and she said she wanted to marry him and move to Bermuda. She said 'can you cash a cheque for me and send it back for my airfare as I don't have a bank?'"

Once the victim cashed the cheque, his bank discovered it was fake but only after he sent the thousands of dollars it represented from his account to the woman posing as his potential fiancee.

Describing the cheques as very good forgeries, Det. Sgt. Geraghty said they are tough to spot as fakes, and are only being picked up once they hit sophisticated screening systems within banking institutions.

The Police have had some success in combatting the con artists. One FedEx package recently intercepted by the Fraud Unit and Customs officers en-route to a Bermuda resident contained more than $119,000 in forged cheques, while other potential victims have become suspicious and reported their concerns to Police.

However, detectives have been unable to nail the culprits, since the professionals behind the scheme are based overseas, with money from the scam being wired to accounts all over the world, in particular Japan, Nigeria and Singapore.

"Official figures estimate that there are in excess of 4,000 persons in the United States who are employed on a full-time basis as scam artists or identity thieves. They often choose their victims carefully, preying on their vulnerability due to their age or emotional dependence.

"Victims of these fraudsters are often reluctant to report the crime as they are often embarrassed and humiliated by their loss. I suspect that there are many people out there who have lost money but have chosen not to report the matter," said Det. Sgt. Geraghty.

He explained that while losses from the Internet dating scheme have been relatively small, other similar scams, many involving unsolicited emails, resulted in more than $3.5 million in losses to Bermuda residents last year.

"As the general public becomes more educated, professional scam artists must constantly devise new and innovative ways of relieving unsuspecting victims of their money. This cheque scam is just the latest twist on a long-established method of doing just that," said Det. Sgt. Geraghty.

"Although we are a relatively small community, as an affluent and trusting society Bermuda has always been a target for these professional scam artists and local residents lose millions of dollars each year.

"The Bermuda Police would like to take the opportunity to remind people not to send money to people whose identity they cannot establish. Further, do not allow someone to use your bank account for the deposit of any funds. If they are not using their own bank account, there is a very good chance that they are involved in illegal activity. If you are unsure as to the legitimacy of a transaction do not hesitate to contact the Fraud Unit on 295 0011".

* Have you been a victim of fraudsters? E-mail Elizabeth Roberts eroberts@royalgazette.bm.