MONTREAL – Police are warning Montrealers to beware of a "black money" scam, where fraudsters convince their victims to hand over large sums of cash in exchange for even larger amounts of what turns out to be worthless paper.
The scammers will typically tell their victim that they need help to pay for a method of treating bills that have been dyed black for a variety of reasons. The crooks demonstrate the effectiveness of the cleaning product on a sample wad of cash to convince their prey that the treatment works.
In some cases, the scammers will ask their victims for as much as $25,000 to buy cleaning agents. As proof of "good faith" they give the victim an envelope containing $250,000 of blackened cash to hold until they return with the cleaning agent.
It is at this point that the crooks distract the victim and exchange the cash envelope for an envelope containing only dark-colored paper, police say.
When the crooks fail to return and the envelope is opened, the victim discovers he has been duped.
Anyone who has been approached by "black money" scammers is asked to call Info-Crime at 514-393-1133. All calls are confidential.
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