Scammers targeting elderly

File photo / NZH

Thieves posing as bank workers have scammed an 81-year-old Franklin man out of his savings.

The hearing impaired man, who did not want to be named, is one of a series of elderly people targeted by the scammers in south Auckland.

He was left without cash to pay for birthday and Christmas presents for his grandchildren.

"I just don't trust anyone anymore," he says.

"I have a funny feeling that it could be someone I know, that's been to my house. Until I know who it is I may not feel safe here again."

The scammers snuck into the man's house in early October and stole his wallet while he was working in the garden.

Shortly after he received a call from a woman who told him she was from his local bank branch.

She said there had been a number of strange transactions in his account.

He went inside to get his details and found his wallet missing.
The woman then asked for his bank details and password so she could investigate.

When questioned, she gave him a list of bank phone numbers to call later that would assure him she was genuine.

The man says his lack of technological skills made it easier for him to believe her.

He did not want to say how much they stole, but said it added up to "thousands of dollars".

"I gave her all the information she was asking for. They went and sucked my accounts dry."

He would have been left without money to pay for basics had his bank not agreed to refund some of the lost money.

"They gave me a few bob to carry on with until I could get going. The bank has come to the party very well."

Counties-Manukau Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey says the offenders have run the same scam several times in South Auckland.

They wait until a person leaves their home or goes outside, steal their wallet, then ring them pretending to be a police officer or bank worker, she says.

Elderly or vulnerable people are targeted.

She is warning people not to trust anyone phoning and asking for personal details.

"Some will even ask on the phone what their pin number is.

"These kinds of scams have happened a zillion times in this area and throughout Auckland. Police are working with people to warn them they are taking place."