HAMILTON, Bermuda (CMC):

Fraudsters are targeting Bermuda residents looking for love on Internet dating sites in order to swindle them out of thousands of dollars, police have said.

Con artists posing as potential soulmates have persuaded victims to cash travellers' cheques for them and wire the funds. However, the cheques have turned out to be fakes, leaving their 'dates' badly out of pocket.

According to Detective Sergeant David Geraghty of the Bermuda Police Fraud Unit, three men and two women from Bermuda have fallen victim so far this year, with losses approaching US$10,000.

The criminals spin various tales to get the cheques cashed and money wired back to them,such as that they do not have a bank account, they live in a country that doesn't accept travellers' cheques or that it is a 'work-from-home' opportunity for the victim who can keep 10 per cent of the funds.