At least five different exhibitors selling Chinese porcelain fell foul of dud cheques issued from a closed NatWest bank account in the name of Xwhe trading as Sun Chinese.
The cheques, totalling in excess of £10,000, were signed for goods selected by three Chinese men in their 20s who claimed to be from Shanghai and were quite knowledgeable about their subject matter.
The men – at least one spoke passable English – gave what appears to be a false address in Cambridge.
Hammersmith police have been notified of the incident.
Alert over dud cheques
Dealers are being warned to be vigilant following a suspected cheque fraud at the Summer Olympia Fine Art and Antiques Fair.