Police are aware of a Facebook scam circulating where a person is messaging people and posing to be New Zealand Police.

The message advises victims that their computer has been hacked.

Then, phone contact is made and the victim is sent an email claiming to be from “New Zealand Police, Cyber Crime Unit.”

The victim is requested to cooperate in a supposed Police investigation.

The scammers then gets the victim to grant them remote access to their computer and subsequently accesses their online banking.

From here, the scammers attempt to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account.

Police want to urge a warning to the public that this is a scam and should not be engaged with.

We have received several reports of this scam and an investigation is underway.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝘀:

• Please remember that Police or other government agencies will never contact you out of the blue and ask for your password, credit card or bank details, or ask you to give them remote access to your computer.
• Police’s message on scams like this is simple – do not engage with anyone online or on the phone if you think you are being scammed – block them or hang up immediately and report the incident.
• We urge people to have conversations with vulnerable or elderly family members, to help ensure they are aware of the tactics often used by scammers and don't become victims.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam you can contact Police and report the matter via 105 either by phone or online at www.police.govt.nz/use-105.

For scams involving your bank or other organisation, please report it to them too.

Visit www.scamwatch.govt.nz for more information on how you can prevent yourself, family and friends from being scammed.