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.
Poll: How do you feel about dogs being allowed indoors in cafes?
For most of us, seeing a friendly doggo while out and about instantly brings a smile to our faces. But how do you feel about cafes welcoming pups inside?
Cast a vote and share your thoughts below.
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26.9% I love it!
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31.3% Only in designated areas
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41.9% No, it should be outdoors only.
Poll: Should employees be able to work from home?
At the post-Cabinet press conference, the National Party asserted they want public sector staff to return to the office. This has opened a conversation about other sectors in New Zealand who have adopted working from home (WFH).
Where possible, do you think employees should be able to work from home? Vote below and share your thoughts in the comments.
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70.7% Yes
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26.5% No
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2.8% Other - I'll share below
Noon toons on East FM, Saturday from midday
Fresh original Kiwi music releases by Jack Moser, Emma Dilemma, and Turkey the Bird (band) feature on another mixed bag She’ll Be Right on Saturdays Show with PJ Taylor, tomorrow midday to 4pm (NZ time, September 28) on East FM.
We’re talking to Jack Moser at 2.30pm live from Sydney about his journey in music and new EP, Where You Are.
The good folk at Blackout Music NZ say: “Tāmaki Makaurau-based indie songwriter Jack Moser bares his soul in the EP Where You Are, a collection of heartfelt compositions that channel his personal experiences into powerful musical expressions.”
It was recorded in Moser’s home-town of Taranaki, co-produced by Jack, Waru Hetet and Sam Johnson at Rhythm Ace, Johnson’s Ôakura studio.
Jack says: “I’m so happy to release this collection of songs. Where You Are has been a really therapeutic EP for me to write.
“It’s helped me understand my own emotions during this relationship, and allowed me to keep moving forward. I’m now in a secure, committed relationship and Where You Are was the final hurdle before attaining exactly what I wanted in a relationship.”
We recently saw the dynamic and powerful singer Emma Dilemma upfront for the welcome-returned Tadpole on the Devilskin national 10th anniversary tour.
Blackout Music NZ says Libra is “a total power pop single from Emma Dilemma. She’s living in Los Angeles for the time being, and has a great video shot in Palm Springs. She’ll be back in NZ to support the release soon.
“It’s best you don’t try to put Emma Dilemma in a box. The self-described ‘patron saint of self-sabotage’ combines her penchant for viewing life through an absurdist lens with her love for melody and storytelling to create serious music that doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
And we’ll always say it, the music of Turkey the Bird, who’ve just released their brand new album – Men, Fish, Boat – on Friday, always makes one feel great. They have a fantastic hopeful view of the world.
For some time we’ve been meaning to play their three most recent Turkey the Bird singles, Smashing Through The Fences, My Life, and Stone Wall Creek, and we’ll do that, and spin the new album in entirety in the coming weeks.
Smashing Through The Fences: “An anthem of empowerment and growth, with uplifting lyrics about breaking barriers, embracing dreams, and finding strength in community.”
My Life: “This folk trio delivers a poignant reflection on living life to the fullest. With lyrics that delve into the ebb and flow of happiness, the mysteries of the future, and the beauty of everyday moments, it’s a heartfelt anthem about making the most of every day.”
Stone Wall Creek: “Is a bluegrass song that captures the serene beauty and tranquil atmosphere of Ngawi, a remote spot in the southernmost part of New Zealand's North Island. Inspired by the picturesque rivers and creeks that Sol, a band member, encountered during his stay, the song reflects the natural charm and peacefulness of the area. Ngawi, known for having the most bulldozers per capita in the world, adds a unique twist to the song's backdrop, blending nature's splendor with human ingenuity.”
East FM is East Auckland’s fair-dinkum community-powered public service radio station, on 88.1FM and 107.1FM on local frequencies, nationally and globally at www.eastfm.nz... and on app iHeart Radio.
She’ll Be Right - it’s all about the vibe; it’s all about the groove. Providing a platform for NZ music and performance artists to exhibit their talents since ages ago. Ka pai. – PJ
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