Police on trail of fraudster

A woman who is on bail awaiting sentence for conning money from tenants is the prime suspect in one of two ongoing Auckland property scams.

Esther Peters will be sentenced in the Auckland District Court in July on 15 counts of obtaining by deception after she pretended she owned properties, then "let" them to her victims last year.

Police have confirmed that Peters is a suspect in at least 12 similar cases this year - the latest as recent as last week.

Detective Sergeant James Robson said Peters was breaching bail by not living at the agreed address and by involving herself in rental agreements.

Although she was allegedly offering prospective tenants apartments as well as houses, police do not believe she is working with two Asian men operating an apartment scam in Auckland city.

One of Peters' alleged victims, Karyn Sands, lost $1600 in February.

Miss Sands said she tracked Peters down and confronted her, recording her confessing to the fraud on February 20.

The tape was passed on to police, who went to the scene that day but did not arrest Peters.

Miss Sands said it was frustrating that Peters appeared to still be offending.

Police advise prospective tenants to ask for proof of identification from landlords, such as passports.

They also advise them not to pay bonds in cash and, if uncertain, to inquire with building managers.