Police have issued a warning to residents in several districts about a scam involving fraudulent phone calls from individuals pretending to be police officers.

Southern Districts Operations Manager, Inspector Matt Scoles, has urged locals to be vigilant and aware of this ongoing scam.

The scam involves a caller claiming to be from a specific police department, who then informs the victim that they have been a target of fraud or a scam.

The caller attempts to obtain further financial information from the victim and may direct them to visit their bank to withdraw money as “evidence” of the alleged scam.

Inspector Scoles said no legitimate police officer would ever ask anyone to hand over money under any circumstances.

He advised that if anyone is unsure about the authenticity of a caller claiming to be a police officer, they should ask for the officer’s full details, hang up, and contact 105 to verify the officer’s identity.

The scam appears to be targeting older members of the community, and police are urging anyone with vulnerable relatives or friends to make them aware of this threat.

Since early August, there have been several reported instances of this scam, leading to arrests in Auckland and Wellington.

Currently, three people are before the courts in connection with scamming vulnerable people in these districts.

One of the accused, a 26-year-old UK national, has already been convicted of scamming over $330,000 from victims.

Inspector Scoles reiterated that New Zealand police will never ask for banking details, card numbers, PINs, or passwords over the phone.

The Police have provided the following reminders to help the public avoid falling victim to scams:

• Police will never request your bank card details, PINs, or passwords over the phone.
• Trust your instincts—if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
• If uncertain, ask for the officer’s details, hang up, and contact 105 to verify the call.
• Police do not offer prize money or any similar incentives.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a scam is urged to report the matter to the Police. For more information on scam awareness and prevention, visit the Netsafe website at netsafe.org.nz.