Miyuki
03-19-2010, 01:14 AM
By MICHAEL FOX - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 14:47 02/03/2010
Nigerian fraudsters have been posing as New Zealand law enforcers in an attempt to 'help' those already hit by their scams.
Police said today the scammers have attempted to pass themselves off as representatives of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency (OFCANZ).
The scammers allegedly targeted a woman who has already been the victim of a scam by pretending that they were OFCANZ investigators looking into her case.
Agency head, Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess said the alleged scammers asked the woman to pay more money to help with the investigation.
"Fortunately the victim was suspicious of the unofficial looking emails, bad grammar and broken English and reported it to police," he said.
"We don't know of anyone else who has been targeted by this particular scam, but would encourage people to ignore any such email and report it to police.
"It is particularly nasty, given that the intended victim in this case had already lost money through a scam perpetrated by the same people."
Mr Burgess said that it was timely reminder, during Fraud Awareness Week, that people should be wary.
"They are not above trying to pass themselves off as law enforcement agencies.
"They will say anything if they think it will persuade someone to start handing over personal details and cash."
OFCANZ officers would never contact people in this way or ask for money, he said.
Mr Burgess said people should ignore emails which tried to solicit money from them.
"Many scams, like this one, originate from outside New Zealand and once money is sent overseas it’s virtually impossible to recover."
While police were investigating the OFCANZ email, enquiries like this were difficult because the offenders are operating outside New Zealand, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3394707/Scammers-pose-as-NZ-fraud-officers
Last updated 14:47 02/03/2010
Nigerian fraudsters have been posing as New Zealand law enforcers in an attempt to 'help' those already hit by their scams.
Police said today the scammers have attempted to pass themselves off as representatives of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency (OFCANZ).
The scammers allegedly targeted a woman who has already been the victim of a scam by pretending that they were OFCANZ investigators looking into her case.
Agency head, Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Burgess said the alleged scammers asked the woman to pay more money to help with the investigation.
"Fortunately the victim was suspicious of the unofficial looking emails, bad grammar and broken English and reported it to police," he said.
"We don't know of anyone else who has been targeted by this particular scam, but would encourage people to ignore any such email and report it to police.
"It is particularly nasty, given that the intended victim in this case had already lost money through a scam perpetrated by the same people."
Mr Burgess said that it was timely reminder, during Fraud Awareness Week, that people should be wary.
"They are not above trying to pass themselves off as law enforcement agencies.
"They will say anything if they think it will persuade someone to start handing over personal details and cash."
OFCANZ officers would never contact people in this way or ask for money, he said.
Mr Burgess said people should ignore emails which tried to solicit money from them.
"Many scams, like this one, originate from outside New Zealand and once money is sent overseas it’s virtually impossible to recover."
While police were investigating the OFCANZ email, enquiries like this were difficult because the offenders are operating outside New Zealand, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3394707/Scammers-pose-as-NZ-fraud-officers