A man has been arrested after allegedly calling himself a police officer and swindling over 15 victims out of cash and gold.
Police say the man, 26, is an English national.
The alleged offending is believed to have taken place over the past ten days across the wider Wellington district, including Hutt Valley, Porirua, Otaki and Wellington City.
The scam starts with a call from an individual pretending to be a police officer.
The scammer tells the victim that “dishonest activity” is underway at banks and gold exchanges and the victim is needed to help catch the dishonest employee.
The victims, who believe they are helping the police, are instructed to go to a bank or a gold exchange and withdraw wealth to obtain evidence against the fictional dishonest employee.
Once the victim has withdrawn cash or gold, a person posing as a courier working for the police takes it from their address.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tim Leitch said in a statement Wellington police have had at least 17 complaints from victims, with many handing over cash and/or gold.
“The value of the currency handed over totalling several hundred thousand dollars between the victims,” Leitch said.
Upon searching the 26-year-old mans accommodation, ” large amounts of cash and gold, believed to be the proceeds of the fraudulent activity” was found.
He is due to appear in the Wellington District Court today charged with eight charges of obtaining by deception, three for attempting to obtain by deception and one for resisting arrest.
Scam likely to continue
Despite the arrest, police believe the scam will continue, after alleging the operation is coordinated and executed by offenders offshore who are directing the “couriers” on the ground in New Zealand to the addresses for pickups.
“People should be extremely vigilant and careful if they receive calls asking them to assist Police in the way described,” Leitch said.
“Police will never contact you and ask you to withdraw money, nor will they contact you seeking banking details, card numbers, PIN or password.
“Older members of our community are being targeted and police urge anyone with elderly or vulnerable relatives to make them aware of this scam activity.”
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of this scam, or has received calls you think may be from scammers, should phone Police on 105.
