A sophisticated smishing scam, the first of its kind in New Zealand, has been dismantled through a multi-agency effort, preventing widespread financial losses, say police.
The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) was alerted to the scam in late July after detecting irregularities via its 7726 public reporting system and early warnings from the banking and mobile sectors. Police, in collaboration with government agencies and Australian authorities, swiftly launched “Operation Orca” to tackle the threat.
On 23 August, a search warrant at a central Auckland residence led to the arrest of a 19-year-old man and the seizure of an SMS Blaster, a device used to send fraudulent text messages by mimicking legitimate cell towers. The scam involved sending deceptive messages, purportedly from banks, to trick recipients into sharing sensitive financial details.
Police reported that the device sent thousands of fraudulent messages, including 700 in a single night. While 120 people were affected, no financial losses have been reported.
Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, of the National Organised Crime Group, said, “This is the first time an SMS Blaster has been found operating in New Zealand. By working together, we have prevented large-scale financial losses.”
The arrested man faces charges of interfering with a computer system and is due in court in December.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant, reminding them not to click on suspicious links in text messages and to report scam messages by forwarding them to 7726.
