FOLLOWING the recent report about cheque fraud in July on Portobello Road and Westbourne Grove, additional incidents have emerged of suspected fraud around London using cheques under the account name GC Commodity’s (sic).
The man, who claimed his name was Mr Crumb or Crump, has since
targeted antiques shops in Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Kensington
Church Street, using cheques issued by Santander, 21 Prescott
Street, London E1 8TN. He has been described as a well-dressed,
dark-haired, middle-aged white male of medium build, with a foreign
accent, possibly Spanish. He can be seen in the CCTV image printed
here.
A Chelsea LAPADA member accepted a £2000 cheque from the man,
which has since been returned 'Payment Stopped'.
Another LAPADA member based in London SW3 took payment for a
painting from the man, who again used a company cheque for GC
Commodity's. Again, payment was stopped.
Knightsbridge jewellers McKenna & Co. were also targeted on
August 22, but declined a cheque for £1350. The man said he would
come back with a credit card. Michael McKenna immediately phoned
local jewellers to warn them, but within minutes the man had
visited a neighbouring store and succeeded in paying with a
fraudulent cheque.
Mr McKenna reported a number of warning signs that led him to
reject the cheque:
• The man spelt his name as Crumb on the sales invoice, but the
debit card he presented to back up his cheque was in the name of
Crump.
• The account holder on the cheque was G.C. Commodity's -
Commodities would have been the correct spelling.
• He gave a false, incomplete address for the invoice and didn't
know his postcode.
• He had no business card available when asked.
• He used the debit card to 'back up' his cheque, rather than
for the purchase itself.
• The signature on the cheque was different from that on the
debit card.
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