New Zealand

Scam involving fake police officers re-emerges

17:17 pm on 13 June 2024

Photo: 123RF

Police are warning the public about a re-emerging phone scam after at least two elderly Aucklanders were conned out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Scammers have been posing as police officers to get money from their victims.

Waitematā Criminal Investigation Branch's Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting said scammers were cold calling, mainly on landlines, and claiming to be a police officer.

"They will also provide a fake ID or badge number to make their call seem legitimate," he said.

"This person will carry on and provide a reason for their call: either they are investigating fake bank notes, or that your credit card has been cloned.

"As part of this scam, they will ask you to withdraw money from a nearby bank to be collected or ask you to provide further financial or banking information to aid their investigation."

Police were investigating two reports this week, in South Auckland and Auckland's North Shore, where two people fell victim to the scam.

"Both victims withdrew cash from a bank and handed this over to someone who arrived at their door to collect it under the fake cover story," Bunting said.

In April, a similar scam was doing the rounds.

Bunting said there were occasions where legitimate police officers would contact people as part of their duties, but police would never contact people seeking their banking details, card numbers, pin numbers, passwords, or to ask them to go to a bank to withdraw money.

Police said people should ask for the officer's details if they are uncertain, and then hang up, contact 105 to verify the ID and request the officer to contact them.

  • Scammers pose as police officers in attempt to get financial information