Whakatāne Police are warning residents to remain vigilant of scams as they continue to circulate the community.
Police have noticed a spike in scam complaints in recent weeks, including a few locals who have lost large amounts of money.
According to Police, common scams include:
Phishing: Scammers pose as trusted organizations in emails to steal personal information, like banking details.
Social Media: Scams occur through social media, where imposters may request money or pose as sellers/buyers.
Invoice: Fake invoices demand payment for goods/services not requested or received.
Calls: Fraudulent calls, often claiming to be from reputable companies, aim to gain access to private information.
Money/Investment: Scammers deceive victims into giving money or valuable information with false promises of financial gain.
Romance: Fake online profiles on dating sites/apps or social media exploit trust to solicit money or personal details.
Text Message (Smishing): Scammers send texts to obtain personal/financial information or money.
Money Mules: Individuals used to transfer illegally obtained money, aiding in the laundering of scam proceeds.
"We urge the public to be really cautious about these money making schemes," says Whakatāne Police, Senior Sergeant Helen Hay.
"Rule of thumb: if seems too good to be true, it normally is," Hay says.
Those who believe they have been a victim of fraud, are urged to contact Police by either calling 105 or visiting 105.police.govt.nz
Image: New Zealand Police.
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