Sophisticated scam targeting Indian families

Rotorua police Constable Shami Singh is warning locals of a new scam targeting Indian families. Photo/Ben Fraser

A new, highly sophisticated scam that saw a Rotorua woman lose more than $1600 could be targeting local Indian families, police warn.

Rotorua police Constable Shami Singh said the woman, who did not want to be identified, had been in the country for only a few months when the scammers hit.

They called her landline asking for her husband by his surname. When she said he wasn't home, they hung up.

"Moments later they were calling her cellphone and had manipulated her caller ID so it looked like she was receiving a call from her husband's number.

"The scammers went on to say they were from immigration and had caught her husband selling drugs.

"They said she had to fill out a form that would cost $2000 and if she didn't her husband would be put in jail and deported."

Singh said the woman became frantic and afraid.

"She said she didn't have a credit card but had $2000 in cash. They told her to go buy $2000 worth of Apple and Steam gift cards and when she said she didn't have a car, a taxi showed up at her house.

"These people knew her surname, where she lived, her cellphone number and knew how to manipulate her caller ID.

"These people know what they're doing, the scam is highly sophisticated."

Singh said the woman had sent the scammers the codes to $1650 worth of gift cards before another woman stepped in and told her to stop.

"At first she was agitated and told the woman to leave her alone as the scammers had threatened that if she spoke to anyone, her husband would go to jail. But her husband then showed up and she realised she was being scammed.

"She was freaked out. She did what she did out of fear she was going to lose her husband. She says she's been shaken up by this experience and it's been an eye opener."

Singh said police were investigating the incident, but it was "hard to track down these guys".

"They could be within the country or international, they cover their tracks.

"We are grateful the other woman stepped in when she did. We are asking that shops and supermarkets keep an eye out for people buying gift cards in bulk as this is not typical behaviour and could be a sign someone is falling for a scam."

Singh said other Indian families should be on high alert.

"When the victim told the scammers she didn't speak very much English, they switched straight to Hindi, which indicates to us they are possibly targeting the Indian community."

Last month, Auckland police were investigating a potential phone scam targeting the Indian community.

The scammer was calling victims and saying they were a New Zealand police officer. They would then tell them that a family member had been arrested and demand cash in order to release the family member from custody.

What to do if you're being scammed:
- Tell the person on the phone you know it is a scam
- Do not give out any personal information
- Hang up the call
- Report the incident to police