Brock University is once again warning the public about bogus cheques that appear to be issued by the University and are being circulated as part of a secret shopper scheme.

The cheques have been issued to people responding to an online advertisement seeking secret shoppers to evaluate the customer service at a major retail outlet and a money transfer service.

Respondents are couriered phony cheques bearing the University’s name and address, as well as the name of a major bank. People are directed to cash the cheques and wire a large portion of funds to a third party, under the guise of carrying out a secret shopper mission at the money transfer service. Meanwhile, the cheque bounces, leaving the recipient on the hook for its value.

The bank account from which the fake cheques are written is invalid.

So far the University has received one complaint about such a cheque, valued at $950.

Anyone who receives cheque that appears to be from Brock as a result of responding to a secret shopper ad is advised to destroy the cheques immediately.