Phone Scammers Impersonating School Staff - Ordering Furniture with Dishonoured Cheques

2023-07-21

Defrauding Tricks

Recently, there are scammers impersonating school or company staff and calling the public. They lured the recipients to order furniture from a specified supplier on their behalf under various pretexts. They promised to give victims handsome commission as finder’s fee besides the payment for goods.

The accomplice of the scammers then posed as the supplier and asked the victims for advance payment to confirm the order. Meanwhile, the scammers would falsify transfer records or pay in dishonoured or invalid cheques as proof of payment; or ask the victims to advance the payment first. After the victims paid the fictitious supplier, the scammers and accomplice could no longer be reached.

Our Advice

• Scammers might pay in dishonoured or invalid cheques, which would result in an increase in “ledger balance”. It does not indicate successful transfer of payment as the transfer process is not yet completed;

• When receiving payment, you should check if there is a rise in “available balance” of your account. Don’t trust anyone simply because of a screenshot of deposit record;

• If you receive calls purportedly from school staff, you can verify their identity by calling the school telephone number shown on the website of Education Bureau;

• If in doubt, please call the “Anti-Scam Helpline 18222” for enquiries.