A 25-year-old UK national has been arrested in Auckland after he allegedly posed as a police officer over the phone, scamming victims out of more than a quarter of a million dollars.
A total of $297,700 was taken from 18 Aucklanders aged between 56 and 90, with most victims older than 80.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton from Auckland’s financial crime unit said the victims were told a story about police needing their assistance with an investigation.
“The scam will always involve this so-called officer asking for financial information or asking you to withdraw cash to be collected as part of an investigation into banks.”
The man allegedly cold-called victims, posing as a police officer. (Source: istock.com)
At the time of the arrest, the scammer was allegedly on his way to collect more cash from a previous victim, having recently arrived in New Zealand.
Detectives showed up on the victim’s doorstep and informed him that he was about to be scammed out of $20,000 in cash.
After a foot chase through Central Auckland on Monday, police were able to take the man into custody.
He will appear in the Auckland District Court facing 22 charges of obtains by deception, attempting to obtain by deception and escaping custody.
“This man’s alleged actions betrayed the good-will of vulnerable and elderly members of our community,” Bolton said
Bolton said inquires are ongoing and police are working to recover as much of the cash as possible.
Police will oppose bail.
Police advice
• Police will never call to ask you for bank details, pin numbers or passwords
• Police do not offer prize money
• Police will not ask you to go to a bank to withdraw money
• If you receive a call out of the blue of a similar nature: challenge the caller to identify themselves, ask for their details
• Hang up, contact 105 to verify the ID and request the officer to contact you
• If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.
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