The New Zealand Police are warning the public about a resurgence of a phone scam where fraudsters impersonate police officers in cold calls. Recent reports have raised concerns, especially as at least two elderly individuals in Auckland have been duped out of significant sums of money.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ryan Bunting from Waitematā CIB revealed that scammers primarily target landlines, providing a false identity with a fake ID or badge number to appear legitimate. They typically claim to be investigating counterfeit banknotes or cloned credit cards, persuading victims to withdraw money from their bank for collection or to divulge financial and banking details for their "investigation."
"This is a scam call," emphasised Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting, urging caution. Police are actively investigating two recent reports in south Auckland and the North Shore where victims fell prey to these tactics.
"In both cases, the victims withdrew cash from their bank and handed it over to an individual who arrived at their door, masquerading under the scam's guise," added Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting, highlighting the emotional toll on victims who trustingly comply with the scammers' requests.
Authorities emphasise that scammers operate without morals and exploit any opportunity to deceive individuals. While legitimate police may contact people as part of their duties, they stress that police will never request bank details, PIN numbers, or passwords over the phone, nor offer prize money or ask individuals to withdraw money from their bank.
"If you receive a call of this nature, hang up," advised Detective Senior Sergeant Bunting, urging victims to report such incidents to the police. He also encouraged the community, especially families with elderly members, to remain vigilant and spread awareness of these scams.
To verify the legitimacy of a call, individuals should hang up and contact 105, requesting the officer's ID and asking for a return call. Authorities remind the public that if a phone call seems too good to be true, it likely is.