Real New Zealand Police officers are urging the public to be vigilant following a resurgence of scam calls in which fraudsters impersonate police, the force says.
In the past year, Police have swiftly issued warnings as these cold calls surfaced among unsuspecting victims. Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Bergin of Waitematā CIB described the scam’s modus operandi:
“Unsuspecting victims are essentially being called out of the blue under a ruse. The story changes slightly, but it will usually involve some sort of investigation and this ‘officer’ will report having located a valuable item of yours, such as a passport. He will need your help or ask for your personal information. The caller speaks with an English accent and provides a bogus ID number to the victim.” Police have also previously encountered scammers who ask people to withdraw cash or hand over bank details under the guise of assisting in investigations.
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In recent days, reports have come in from communities across both islands, including Warkworth, Riverhead, Royal Oak, Ngaruawahia, Clutha, and Queenstown-Lakes. Despite the frequency of attempts, Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Bergin confirmed, “Fortunately, at this stage we are not aware of any victims losing money. Those recipients have done the right thing and ended the call and reported it to the real Police.”
To combat the scam, at least one arrest was made last year, police said. “We strongly advise that you hang up,” Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Bergin added. “From time‑to‑time, Police officers may contact you as part of their genuine duties. It can be a bit surprising to receive a call unexpectedly, so stop and think if you get a far‑fetched story shared down the telephone line.”
Police have provided the following guidance to protect the public:
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Police will never ask for your bank details, PIN numbers, or online banking login.
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Police do not offer prize money.
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Police will never request you go to a bank to withdraw your own cash.
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If a call seems suspicious, hang up and dial 105 to verify the officer’s identity, or request a callback.
If you receive such a call, report it immediately to Police—either online or by phoning 105.
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