Warning on 'mystery shopper' scam

Police have issued a warning about a new financial scam being operated in Northern Ireland.

Advertisements are being placed in local newspapers to recruit 'mystery shoppers'.

Those who reply are sent a cheque via courier from Malaysia, asked to lodge the cheque in their bank account and buy a small item, such as an i-pod.

After returning the balance via a Western Union account, the victims find the original cheque has bounced.

The scam has already appeared in County Londonderry, but police believe other parts of NI may, in time, be targeted.

The money balance is returned via a Western Union in Dublin.

There is no suggestion that the newspapers or the money transfer organisation are aware of the fraud.

"Those behind this fraud are counting on the naivety of people who reply to the advertisements," a police spokesperson said.

"To put it bluntly, you do not get something for nothing. Any communication like this, whether by mail or e-mail, should be binned."