Scams aiming to part Bermuda residents from their cash are on the increase, Police have warned.

According to the Fraud Unit, cheques and money orders are the focus of many of the cons, known as ?overpayment scams?.

Detective Sergeant David Geraghty explained: ?Often, persons claiming to be from Nigeria will send the money orders via UPS or FEd-Ex and ask you to cash them at your bank.

Once they are cashed, the person allows you to keep some of the money and instructs that the rest is sent back to them.

?It is only after sending the money that you will discover the cheques to be counterfeit and your bank account to be overdrawn by several thousand dollars.?

In one recent case, counterfeit American Express gift cheques were sent to a resident who deposited them into a local bank account.

Real American Express gift cheques have holograms, water marks and security threads similar to those on bank notes. They should be examined closely to make sure the cheques are legitimate.

The Police also warned that particular care should be taken when dealing with people via internet sites such as eBay and e-Moo.

They said to beware if sellers ask the buyer to cash cheques or money orders for them, or buyers wish to pay above and beyond the asking price for goods.