Canadians pass bad checks in Eastern Iowa

Banks in Eastern Iowa are warned to be on the lookout for some crafty Canadians who may be plotting to rip them off. At least three banks in the Davenport area and three more in Clinton may’ve been duped out of at least 20-thousand dollars by several Canadians posing as businessmen. Clinton police lieutenant Charles Witt says the Canadians open a checking accountwith a small deposit. A few days later, they cash a large check from Canada and start writing checks for cash on the deposit — but the big checkbounces. Two Canadians are being held in Davenport, charged with theft in the scheme: 43-year-old Pantelis Traikos and 52-year-old Ioannis Doussis. Investigators believe at least two other Canadian men are involved in thisand similar bank fraud cases in Illinois and Michigan.