A visitor from the United Kingdom has extended his stay in New Zealand after being jailed for his part in a fake police officer scam to swindle money from Aucklanders.
In the Auckland District Court this week, Jack Dylan Hennessy was handed three years and three months imprisonment for his involvement in the scheme that came to the attention of the real thing earlier this year.
The scam involved cold-calling people and asking them to assist a “covert police operation”. Victims were conned into withdrawing thousands in cash, ready to be collected in-person by a fake officer.
Hennessy was arrested after a foot chase through central Auckland in June and pleaded guilty in August to 27 charges, including 25 counts of obtaining by deception. The 26-year-old took $337,700 in cash from people in Auckland.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, from Auckland City’s Financial Crime Unit, said investigators tracked the man who had been turning up at victims’ front doors — clearly expecting he could fly into the country and then fly out with some quick money.
“A short visit to rip off New Zealanders has turned into a three-year prison sentence,” he said.
“Right from the start, our investigators were determined to make people aware and put a stop to this offending.”
Police said the three-year sentence should be a deterrent to others tempted to believe New Zealanders were easy prey.
“It sends a message to the offshore organised criminal groups running these operations that we are not a soft target,” Bolton said.
“A prison sentence is a clear warning to those who may be recruited to be cash couriers by these criminal groups – we’ll catch up with you.”
Two other men also faced court proceedings for their alleged roles in the re-emergence of the scam in other parts of the country.
Another UK national had been charged in the Wellington District Court following his arrest in August.
A 24-year-old Auckland man was still before the Waitākere District Court on a fraud charge. after genuine Waitematā District police officers were waiting him as he allegedly arrived to collect cash from another victim of the scam.
Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton said it make seem like a quick buck and a victimless crime to some but the impacts can be “devastating”.
“Confidence scams such as this one impact their victims, who are often vulnerable members of our community.
“This has had a devastating financial loss for these victims.”
