A British man who helped scam New Zealanders out of $411,650 in cash and gold has been murdered in London, months after being released from prison for his role in the fraud.
According to a report by Stuff, Reece Salmon, 28, was identified by the Metropolitan Police as the man who died following a stabbing in Clerkenwell on September 16.
Salmon was sentenced to prison in June 2025 after pleading guilty to 15 charges of obtaining by deception. He was involved in an organised scam operated by a UK-based group, according to The Post.
The scam targeted elderly New Zealanders by having fraudsters pose as undercover police officers. Victims were told they were helping authorities investigate a “dishonest employee” at a bank or gold exchange, Stuff has reported.
Police said victims were instructed to withdraw cash or purchase gold as part of the supposed investigation. A person posing as a police courier would then arrive at their homes to collect the money or gold, claiming it would be returned the following day.
Salmon had been in New Zealand for only a few days when he began working as the courier, visiting victims’ homes and collecting their valuables.
According to Stuff, nineteen people in the Wellington region were targeted between July and August 2024. Police described the victims, who were aged between 60 and 95, as “vulnerable”.
Following his sentencing, The Post reported that Salmon was expected to be deported after completing his prison sentence. The Parole Board later confirmed to Stuff that he was granted parole in February 2026, as reported by Stuff.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Salmon was stabbed on Lloyd Baker Street, an area locally known as “Millionaire’s Row”, on September 16. He died in hospital the following day, as reported by Stuff.
No arrests have been made in connection with his death.
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart described Salmon’s death as a “tragic incident”.
His family said they were “utterly devastated,” as reported by Stuff.
“Reece was a loving partner and son, and he leaves behind many friends and loved ones. It is impossible to put our loss into words,” Stuff has quoted.
Police urged anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be conducting a police operation to be “extremely vigilant and careful”.
“Police will never contact you and ask you to withdraw money, nor will they contact you seeking banking details, card numbers, PIN or password,” as quoted by Stuff.
Authorities also encouraged people with elderly or vulnerable relatives to make them aware of such scams and the tactics used by fraudsters.