A currency scam that originated in West Africa has Cheektowaga police issuing a warning to residents following a recent arrest.

The “Black Money Scam” reportedly turned up in Cheektowaga two weeks ago, as three men from Liberia were charged with trying to swindle a Buffalo man out of thousands of dollars.

Also known as the “Black Dollar Nigerian Cash Cleaning Scam,” the scam involves the con men presenting pieces of black construction paper cut to the size of dollar bills and convincing the victim that it is actually currency that has been died black to be smuggled into the country undetected. The con man then tells the victim he needs another chemical to wash off the dye so the currency will be usable again. The victim is asked for money to pay for the chemical and is promised half the black paper. After the money is given to the con man, the victim is given the black paper, and the con man disappears with the victim’s money.

In this instance, the three men — Mohamed Kromah, 34, of New York City; Mohammed Kaba, 42, of Philadelphia; and Yayah Swaray, 32, of Sharon Hill, Pa. — were staying at the Sleep Inn on Holtz Drive and had allegedly targeted Omar Clark, 35, of Buffalo. According to police, Clark paid the men but became irate when he discovered the “currency” was just paper. He then allegedly tried to retrieve his lost money at gunpoint.

Police said Clark then set up another meeting with the men by telling them he had some friends who wanted in on the “investment.” It is unknown where that meeting took place, but Kromah, Kaba and Swaray were allegedly threatened at gunpoint by Clark and some associates to return the money.

Clark reportedly took Kromah back to the Cheektowaga hotel room to retrieve the money. Kromah was able to break free and call Cheektowaga police around 4 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, according to Capt. Jim Speyer.

Cheektowaga detectives searched the hotel room and discovered what they thought could be a potentially dangerous situation in the bathroom.

“The situation at the hotel was tense, because investigating officers and detectives found several types of chemicals and containers in the hotel room which were originally thought to be bomb-making materials or components of a meth lab,” Speyer said.

Cheektowaga police received assistance from agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.

Kromah, Kaba and Swaray were arrested and charged with fraudulent accosting and criminal possession of a forgery instrument.

Clark was arrested and charged with attempted robbery and fourth-degree conspiracy.

In response, Cheektowaga police are issuing a warning and asking residents to be aware of this scam.

“If something sounds too good to be true, chances are, it’s probably not legitimate,” Speyer said.

email: mkrueger@beenews.com