Change scam resurfaces

Scammers demand spare change. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A long-running scam where motorists are asked for spare change for petrol money has taken a dangerous turn.

Police said suspects were reported waving down moving cars with torches to ask for money in the Auckland suburb of Ellerslie on Thursday night.

Onehunga Senior Sergeant Hirone Waretini said they told drivers they needed money to get home to Huntly.

Police have received 27 complaints about the group from the Auckland region since the start of last year.

Waretini said some complainants had given them money - only to see them asking for cash again.

Two vehicle licence plates had been reported during that period, along with similar descriptions of a scruffy-looking man and two women.

The Herald on Sunday investigated the con last October after receiving more than 60 complaints.

The registered owner of one of the vehicles involved, a 46-year old woman, threw a shoe and sprayed fly-spray at a reporter when approached at a home in Clover Park, east Auckland.

Waretini urged people not to give them money, and report any sightings to police.

"We're making all of our staff aware of the activities of this group and we'll endeavour to stop it."