Police are warning people to be wary of a phone scam in which the caller claims to work for New Zealand Police and Spark and to be targeting internet fraud.
The victim is asked to purchase multiple iTunes cards at their own expense, and provide the numbers to the scam artist, who then redeems the gift cards and breaks contact with the victim, while maintaining remote access to the victim’s computer.
Acting Senior Sergeant Beth Purcell, Relieving Prevention South Manager, said, "This is a variation on previous scams seen by police, where the scammer claims to be from a widely recognised organisation in order to gain the victim's trust".
"These scams run constantly and while most people will not respond or buy into them, some people are more vulnerable," Ms Purcell said.
"We urge people to have conversations with vulnerable or elderly family members, to help ensure they are aware of the tactics often used by scammers and don't become victims."
Business owners who note customers buying multiple gift cards of high monetary value should check they are not being pressured or duped into purchasing such large amounts.
"NZ Police's message on scams like this is simple - do not engage with anyone on the phone if you think you are being scammed - hang up immediately and report the incident.
"If you are in doubt as to a caller's legitimacy, ask if you can call them back, or just hang up.
"Regardless of whether you have lost any money, if you have installed a program allowing remote access to your computer, we recommend you seek assistance to ensure it is safely removed."
More information on other scams currently operating around the country can be found at Consumer Protection NZ.
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