Sarnia police are warning the public never to cash a cheque for someone you don't know.
Constable John Sottosanti said they've recently had a number of calls about people losing out on money after cashing fraudulent cheques.
He said they're stolen, and usually made out in someone else's name.
"In this crime, innocent people ranging in age and vulnerability are randomly approached by either a male or female [the two are working together][ and fed a story of how a relative is dying of cancer in another city or that a family member has been in a serious car accident," said Sottosanti. "The scammers then tell the victim that they do not have a bank account but need to cash their cheque to be able to travel to see their ill relative."
Sottosanti said the scammers make it enticing for the victim by offering them money for their help.
Once the victim cashes the cheque and withdraws the cash, they're on the hook for the money and usually end up with an overdrawn account.
Anyone that suspects a scam like this is asked to contact police.