A visiting UK national, who scammed kiwis out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, won’t be leaving the country anytime soon.
Jack Dylan Hennessy faces three years, three months imprisonment over his involvement in a fake Police scam which emerged earlier this year.
The scam involves people being cold called by people posing as Police officers under the guise of asking them to assist a ‘covert Police operation’.
Victims are conned into withdrawing thousands in cash, to be collected in-person by a fake officer.
Twenty-six-year-old Hennessy took $337,700 in cash from Aucklanders.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, from Auckland City’s Financial Crime Unit, says investigators worked quickly to track down the man who had been appearing at victims’ front doors.
“A short visit to rip off New Zealanders has turned into a three-year prison sentence,” he says.
“Right from the start our investigators were determined to make people aware and put a stop to this offending.”
Police acknowledge the sentence handed down in the Auckland District Court.
“It sends a message to the offshore organised criminal groups running these operations that we are not a soft target,” Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says.
In August Hennessy pleaded guilty to 27 charges, including 25 counts of obtains by deception.
“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 are also facing court proceedings for their alleged roles in the re-emergence of the scam in other parts of the country.
Another UK national remains before the Wellington District Court after his arrest in August.
Meanwhile, a 24-year-old Auckland man is still before the Waitākere District Court on a fraud charge.
In August, real Police officers from Waitematā District lay in wait for the man after he allegedly came to collect cash from another victim of the scam.
Detective Senior Sergeant Bolton says: “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.”
Bread and water
Why do we have to look after this AH?
One down, but still three of them to be charged. They thought they would be out of the country before they got caught. Many more in the shadows waiting to pick up another scam now that they have found out how gullible New Zealanders are and many more waiting in the UK to fly to New Zealand for such a lucrative holiday. These people are many, and they are organised.
No problem serving 6 months. They will learn a lot about the New Zealand legal and policing system while in there. Then it’s back to Europe to collect the cash from your bank account and all fresh and ready to plan the next scam.
What we did on our holiday… 😂😂😂
“Hello I’m from the Police. I can’t tell you any details about myself because I’m undercover, but I’d like you to give me $500 cash to help with our undercover operation. It’s all secret squirrel stuff and we’re on the track of some really bad guys. All cool?
” Yeah sure. How would you like it?”
“Oh just used notes. Any denomination will do, thanks.”
“No worries. I’ll just go down to the ATM in the mall. Can you meet me in the Coffee place in about half an hour?”
Yeah cool. You’re a hero and we really appreciate this heaps mate!”
Police are looking for an assailant who severely beat a UK visitor outside the Coffee ‘n Sarnies at the Flumdumpery Mall this afternoon. Witnesses report that the assailant appeared to be around 70 years old and was screaming “Think I’m stupid? Take this you pommie prick” as he kicked the man repeatedly. No cash, wallet, phone or any ID was found on the victim.
When asked for a comment, a genderless short blond(e) police spokesbeing said “It’s a bit of a mystery alright. We’re hoping to get more information from the victim, but he seems reluctant to talk at this stage”.