This news in from the Police following a 20-year-old man from Southampton being arrested in connection with this investigation. In their own words. Ed
Police in Hampshire investigating money laundering offences are issuing a warning to young people in the county with bank accounts not to cash cheques for people they do not know.
The advice comes after receiving reports of students and teenagers being contacted via Facebook and other social media and being asked to cash a cheque for an unknown source, who says they do not have a bank account. The young person is then asked to pay the money on to them.
When the cheque is cleared by the bank it bounces and the person is left out of pocket.
It seems young people with a Natwest Adapt account are being targeted in particular.
Anyone who believes they may have been approached in this way is advised not to cash the cheque and to contact police immediately on 101, quoting Operation Hornsby. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers, the charity, anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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