Thousands taken in Eftpos scam

File photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A con-artist has taken thousands of dollars in a sophisticated Eftpos scam in Northland.

Police say the scam involves a person posing as a courier driver demanding a small fee to deliver a package and it is likely to have been used elsewhere in New Zealand.

Kerikeri shop owners who fell victim to the scam were asked to pay for the package through a card skimming device disguised as an Eftpos machine, police say.

They then had several thousand dollars withdrawn from their account using a duplicate copy of their Eftpos card.

Police say three similar incidents were reported in Whangarei yesterday and the scam was first reported in the Northland area in 2008.

Kerikeri police Sergeant Wendy Hall says the scam appears to have been sophisticated and carefully planned.

The offender seemed to be a professional courier driver and gave shop owners no reason to question the validity of the package, she says

"It looks like the offender had previously visited and identified this shop.

"It is likely this scam has been used elsewhere in New Zealand and I urge any one to exercise extreme caution if they receive a similar approach.

The scammer is described as male Caucasian, aged about 50, of tall skinny build

He was wearing a green baseball cap, green shirt with the company logo "NZ Transport Ltd".

To give information contact Kerikeri police on 09 407 9211, or the anonymous Crimestoppers line, 0800 555 111.

- NZHERALD STAFF