Back
2829 days ago

Scam

Walter J. from Parklands - Marshlands

nz police Safer Communities Together

"Arrest made in scam targeting elderly victims"

To be attributed to Detective Sergeant Colin Baillie:

Christchurch Police have this morning arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to a telephone scam that has been targeting elderly people across New Zealand.

The man will be appearing in Christchurch District Court this afternoon on five charges of causing loss by deception, as well as perverting the course of justice and breach of bail.

The charges follow a police investigation into the scam, whereby offenders make contact with elderly people over the phone, claiming to be from power companies and banks and threatening to disconnect their power if payment is not made immediately.

Enquiries into the scam are continuing, and Police still have a large number of people to speak to in relation to this offending.




We would like to hear from anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam and has not yet spoken to Police; and to anyone else who might have information pertinent to the investigation.

Please contact Christchurch Police on 03 363 7400.


Police would also like to reiterate that banks will never ask for account details over the phone.

If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your bank and they ask for such details, hang up immediately.


Other advice for people who receive calls of this nature includes:
• Seek validation of who the caller actually is.

Always ask for a full name and the company or agency details.

• Validate the phone number of the caller and ask that they call you from a landline if they are using a mobile phone.
• Ignore calls from unknown mobile numbers.
• Don’t share your personal details until you are convinced the caller is legitimate.
• If you are threatened, simply hang up.
• Don’t trust anyone who calls you and asks for financial information such as your account details and password – again simply hang up, call them on their published contact 0800 number or arrange a meeting at the relevant agency branch.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre.

More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.

What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?

Image
When should the tree go up? 🎄
  • 5.1% Second half of November
    5.1% Complete
  • 43.1% 1st December
    43.1% Complete
  • 17% A week before Christmas
    17% Complete
  • 33.3% Whenever you wish
    33.3% Complete
  • 1.5% Other - I'll share below
    1.5% Complete
905 votes
3 hours ago

Spring spruce up

Diana Isaac Retirement Village

Spring is the season of new beginnings and the perfect time to declutter and refresh your home. Imagine stepping into a space that feels open, organised, and filled with only what truly matters. Whether you’re looking to simplify your life, want to downsize, or just enjoy a more comfortable living space, decluttering is a great way to start.

With these expert tips from decluttering and organising specialist Peter Walsh, you can take small steps toward a clutter-free home that you’ll love spending time in.

Click read more for more article.

Image
12 hours ago

The Neighbourhood’s Brainiest: Can YOU Solve Today’s Riddle?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

You see a boat filled with people.
It has not sunk, but when you look again you don’t see a single person on the boat.
Why?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

Image