Bay of Plenty Scam Prompts Fresh Police Warning

Police are urging New Zealanders to stay vigilant after a vulnerable Bay of Plenty resident was allegedly manipulated into handing over a significant amount of cash as part of a "sophisticated" scam.

The case is being used as a reminder that anyone can become the target of fraudsters, who often use pressure, deception and trust to convince victims to part with their money.

According to Police, the victim was persuaded to withdraw cash from a bank account before handing it over to the scammers.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Van Kempen said modern scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and often target people when they are at their most vulnerable.

"Scammers are highly convincing and often prey on people when they are vulnerable or under pressure," he said.

Police say scams are becoming more common across New Zealand, with offenders using unexpected phone calls, emails, text messages and fake requests for money to catch people off guard.

Many scams rely on creating a false sense of urgency, convincing victims they must act immediately before they have time to verify whether the request is genuine.

"No one is immune to being targeted," Van Kempen said.

"These offenders are often skilled at creating a sense of urgency or trust to persuade people to hand over money, personal information or banking details."

Police are encouraging anyone who receives an unexpected request for money or personal information to stop and independently verify it through official channels before taking any action.

"If something doesn't feel right, stop and verify the request through official channels before taking any action.

Taking a moment to check could save you from significant financial loss," Van Kempen said.

The warning comes after a Police investigation led to two men being charged with obtaining by deception.

They are due to appear in Rotorua District Court, while the investigation remains ongoing and further charges are possible.

To protect yourself from scams, Police recommend:

• Never hand over cash or banking details to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.
• Be wary of anyone creating pressure to act immediately.
• Verify requests for money by contacting the organisation directly using official contact details.
• Talk to a trusted family member or friend if you're unsure.
• Report suspected scams to Police and Netsafe.

Authorities say taking a few extra minutes to check whether a request is legitimate can prevent thousands of dollars from being lost to increasingly sophisticated scammers.