Elderly Kiwis hit by phone scam
Hi neighbours. Police have warned of a phone scam which has left victims hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket. The scam, carried out by fraudsters claiming to be Spark and/or police, convinces victims to withdraw thousands of dollars from their bank accounts and send it to domestic and international addresses.
Last month, officers intercepted two separate packages in Auckland containing a total of $25,000. The two victims, one of whom was an 84-year-old woman, had their money returned by police.
However, most who fall for the scam won't be so lucky.
Have you - or someone you know - lost money to this scam? Let us know in the comments or send us an email at newstips@stuff.co.nz
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The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand
Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!
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Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
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19.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.7% Nah - not for me
Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD
The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’
If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.
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