Couple tricked by fake SIS jobs

Detectives are investigating a complaint by two young Hibiscus Coast people that they were duped into believing they had been recruited by the Security Intelligence Service.

Thinking he was on official business for the SIS, one of the pair is understood to have bugged property.

The pair, until recently boyfriend and girlfriend, were given what they now believe to be bogus employment contracts and supporting emails.

The man was provided with a phone, laptop and a BMW, coached on how to install bugs and hack computers and, at the direction of two men he thought worked for the SIS, bugged properties and carried out surveillance on people in Auckland and Wellington.

In what appears to be an expensive ruse, he was flown to the capital on spying activities.

The pair, aged about 20, are listed on 2008 electoral rolls as students.

The woman quit her job in a restaurant to take up an apparent job with the SIS.

The Weekend Herald was told her contract did not mention the SIS by name but associated emails bore what purported to be the SIS insignia.

But before she carried out any "work" she received an email which a source told the Herald read, "It's time to tell you the truth ... it was all a scam." The man then went to the police.

Detective Inspector Scott Beard has confirmed that police are investigating.

"We have taken an account of it and we are looking into it."

Mr Beard said it was early in the investigation and he did not want to comment further at this stage.

It is understood that the man has provided police with documents and emails and details of "assignments" including property he bugged.

The man had worked for the father of the female complainant (his ex-girlfriend) in a company that installed fire-detection and surveillance equipment.

That company was liquidated and the father declared bankrupt in late 2007.

His marriage broke up about the time of the bankruptcy and related loss of the family home.

The father and the male complainant now work for a company specialising in security, cameras, closed-circuit television, fibre optics and fire protection.