Police are aware of reports emerging in several police districts where people have received a scam phone call over a land-line from someone claiming to be a Police Officer.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton from the Financial Crime Unit, Auckland City District, is urging locals across the Auckland to be alert to the scam.
The ‘officer’ on the phone will claim to be from a particular branch or police department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or a scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial information from you.
People have been directed to go to their bank and withdraw money for evidence of the supposed scam, then wait at home with the money to be handed over to another offender (scammer) after a code word is provided to the victim as part of the elaborate scam.
This phone call is a scam – no legitimate Police Officer will ever ask you over the phone to hand over money, for any reason what so ever.