Online phishing scam
With Christmas fast approaching, Police are encouraging people to be aware of online phishing scams.
The holiday season can already be a stressful time, and the last thing you want is to lose large sums of money to a scam.
A phishing scam is an online scam, where the offender pretends to be a trustworthy person or organisation to try and get a victim’s personal information.
Police has received a number of phishing scam reports with offenders targeting people who are selling items or services online like Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace.
The offenders pretend to be an interested buyer, and urgently request to buy your product and arrange a courier pickup.
The victim receives a fake courier website link to complete a verification process asking for personal details, like bank account numbers, passwords, and phone numbers.
Once provided these details, the offender uses these to access a victim’s bank account, tricking the victim into proving any multifactor authentication code sent from the victim’s bank.
The money in the victim’s bank account is then taken by the offender once access is gained.
Police are urging members of the public to be cautious, especially when someone in person or online is asking you to give them money or your personal details like bank accounts and passwords.
Never comply with a request asking you to provide or ‘verify’ your online banking details.
Legitimate organisations will never ask you to do this.
If you are unsure if it is real, please contact your bank by the phone number on their official website or go to your nearest branch.
If you receive a courier website link from a potential buyer, this is likely a scam.
Please do not fill out the verification process.
Use the social media/trading platform’s reporting tools to report the scam and the user involved.
You can also make a report to Netsafe at report.netsafe.org.nz.
If you have handed over your online banking details, contact your bank immediately and suspend your account.
If you think you have been scammed (provided your banking details and/or suffered a loss), please gather as much information you can and make a report to Police online through 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.
Some Choice News!
Many New Zealand gardens aren’t seeing as many monarch butterflies fluttering around their swan plants and flower beds these days — the hungry Asian paper wasp has been taking its toll.
Thanks to people like Alan Baldick, who’s made it his mission to protect the monarch, his neighbours still get to enjoy these beautiful butterflies in their own backyards.
Thinking about planting something to invite more butterflies, bees, and birds into your garden?
Thanks for your mahi, Alan! We hope this brings a smile!
Homicide investigation underway in east Auckland
A homicide investigation is underway following two assaults aboard a bus in east Auckland on Monday evening.
One man has died with a second man receiving serious injuries after they were attacked in two separate incidents aboard the number 76 bus travelling from Glen Innes towards Ōrakei.
A team of investigators are actively searching for the offender, who remains at large this morning.
Detective Inspector Glenn Baldwin, of Auckland City CIB, says Police were notified by ambulance about two separate assaults around 8pm.
At this stage Police have established the offender boarded the bus at Apirana Avenue in Glen Innes at 7.53pm.
Assault 1: Fenchurch and Taniwha Streets
“The first victim boarded the bus at 7.56pm and travelled a short distance before moving to exit the bus at 7.58pm,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says. “The only other passenger aboard initiated an attack on the victim, before he could exit the bus near Fenchurch Street in Glen Innes.”
During this assault, the victim has suffered a fatal knife wound. “The victim, is aged in his 50s, and managed to flee from the bus, before it continued on route.
Assault 2: in the vicinity of Coates Avenue and Kepa Road
The 76 bus continued on route and around 8.09pm, the second victim boarded the bus.
“A man aged in his 40s sat at the back of the bus where the offender moved towards him,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says. “The second unprovoked assault began when the offender approached the victim at the rear of the bus. The offender initiated a fight and quickly produced a knife and assaulted the victim. After a short confrontation the second victim managed to flee from the bus, along with another passenger and the bus driver near the bus stop at Coates Avenue and Kepa Road."
The offender eventually exited the bus himself and was last seen fleeing on foot.
Investigators seeking offender
Police staff have worked through the night to identify the offender responsible for both unprovoked attacks. This has included 2 scene examinations. The bus has been secured and will be examined today.
“I can advise the community that we are following positive lines of enquiry to identify this man, and our priority this morning is to locate and arrest him. Detectives are currently supported by members of the Armed Offenders Squad,” Detective Inspector Baldwin says.
Police have reviewed CCTV footage from inside the bus.
Detective Inspector Baldwin says: “I’m appalled at the unprovoked violence used by this offender against two men who have done absolutely nothing wrong, and one has tragically and needlessly lost his life.
“Our investigation is still in its infancy, but we are committed to understanding the motive and exactly why such violence took place aboard a bus last night."
“I know this horrific event will leave the community unsettled, but please be assured that our investigation team is doing all we can to locate this man.”
Police have spoken with a number of people but ask anyone with additional information to come forward.
Please update Police online now or call 105 using the reference number 251208/7471 or Operation Gyle.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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17.5% Hmm, maybe?
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9.5% Yes!
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