Police are urging south Auckland residents to remain vigilant following reports of scammers targeting trusting people.
Detective Senior Sergeant Simon Taylor, of Counties Manukau CIB, says Police are aware that some members of the community, particularly older people, are becoming the victim of a “leave your bank cards in your letterbox” scheme.
“In this scam, offenders contact victims by phone while pretending to be investigating fraudulent use of their bank card.
“They convince the victim that their bank account has been compromised and instruct them to place their bank card in their letterbox so it can be ‘collected for investigation’.”
However this is a scam, he says.
“Offenders then later attend the property, retrieve the cards, and use them to withdraw cash or make purchases.”
Detective Senior Sergeant Taylor says Police have seen similar scams used previously across New Zealand, where offenders impersonate authorities to gain victims’ trust and access to their finances.
“These scams can result in significant financial loss and are particularly distressing for victims.”
Police advise people to:
- Never follow instructions to leave your bank cards or personal information in your letterbox or outside your home.
- Do not provide your PIN, passwords or banking details to anyone over the phone.
- If you are unsure, hang up and contact your bank using the official phone number, or the phone number recorded on the back of the bank card.
- If someone contacts you claiming to be Police, you can verify this by calling 105.
“Police are asking family members, neighbours and caregivers to check in with elderly or vulnerable people and ensure they are aware of this scam.
“By doing this, you could potentially stop someone you love from becoming a victim.”
If you or someone you know has been targeted or fallen victim, please report it to Police via 105 or online at 105.police.govt.nz, and contact your bank immediately.
Image credit: Planet Volumes
