Kiwis lose millions to offshore scammers
Police are warning the public to be vigilant and wary of calls from phone scammers following a rise in complaints recently which have seen some victims lose tens of thousands of dollars.
Detective Sergeant Kelly Corby from the Auckland City Financial Crime Unit said an investigation, named Operation Hyattsville, is looking into more than 20 complaints from victims who have lost money in the past couple of months to phone scammers operating overseas.
One of these victims, 80-year-old Auckland City resident Marion, was conned by the scammers in a video posted today on the Auckland City District Police Facebook page.
Marion had $10,000 taken from her account after a caller convinced her that there was an urgent issue with her Spark account and they needed to access her computer remotely to fix the issue.
The convincing scammer asked Marion to download the Teamviewer application which allowed them to access her computer before asking for her banking details.
Fortunately, Marion’s bank got in touch after noticing suspicious banking activity and the money was able to be recovered.
Detective Sergeant Corby said unfortunately in most instances the victims are not as lucky as Marion, with several million dollars lost by Kiwis to these offshore scammers in the past few months alone.
“We are not talking about small amounts of money. On average, each victim has lost around $30,000 and these losses are absolutely devastating for our victims,” he said.
“Phone scams are nothing new, however we are concerned after seeing a growing trend of cases recently where victims have been conned over the phone.”
Corby said if you think you are a victim of a phone scam, you need to act fast and notify your bank immediately.
“There is a simple way to stop yourself from being a victim. Do not give your personal banking information out over the phone and do not allow the person over the phone to access your computer,” he said.
“There is no legitimate reason that a company will need to access your computer remotely. Do not download any application which allows them to access it.
A similar investigation by the Auckland Financial Crime Unit last year, Operation Deadwood, resulted in Police charging 18 people for money laundering offences after hundreds of phone scam victims lost more than $2.5 million.
Re 1/2 Day Yoga Retreat - Glow Reiki & Yoga Mini Retreat
GLOW – YOGA & REIKI MINI RETREAT
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Step into a transformative retreat designed to help you reconnect with your inner radiance through a harmonious blend of restorative and yin yoga, meditative practices, and the gentle, balancing energy of Reiki healing. Discover a holistic approach to peace as you engage in guided breathing exercises, soothing yoga postures, and a powerful group Reiki healing circle.
This retreat offers a nurturing experience, blending the calming effects of yoga, the energy healing of Reiki, and mindful practices that nourish the entire being. Throughout the retreat, you'll enjoy nourishing food, thoughtfully prepared to fuel your body and support your journey toward balance and renewal. Experience the uplifting benefits of essential oils, enhancing your relaxation and clarity, and engage in reflective journaling sessions to deepen your self-awareness and process your journey.
Each component is thoughtfully crafted to release tension, realign your body, and open pathways for emotional and energetic renewal. Embrace a nurturing space where you can let go of stress and restore your mind, body, and soul balance. With the gentle touch of Reiki healing, experience the cleansing of your energy centers, leaving you refreshed, centered, and truly glowing from within.
Optional Add-ons (available for an additional cost – enquire upon booking):
Personalised Reiki (10-15 minutes per person)
Accommodation at the Spencer on Byron Hotel
Detoxing treatments, massage, red light therapy, oxygen chamber, or IV vitamins by Boost IV
Details:
Date: Saturday the 7th December
Location: Boost IV, 24 Bracken Ave, Takapuna, Auckland
Duration: 4.5 hours to relax, reset, and reconnect
Start time: 9.30am
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Parking: Available onsite
Date: Saturday the 7th November
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Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.4% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.5% Other - I'll share below
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
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