KEY POINTS:
Internet shoppers are being warned of an email scam asking them to pay "customs fees" before their goods are released.
The Customs Service said yesterday scam emails had been sent to the Hotmail accounts of people who had bought goods over the internet, asking them to pay customs fees or duties.
The group manager of investigations and response, Paul Campbell, said Customs did not contact importers about duties or GST payable on goods by email.
"If Customs has detained goods pending payment of duty or GST, we will always contact you in writing by mail."
Mr Campbell said the hoax emails were not sent from an official Customs email address. They contained incorrect information about Customs and were written in poor English.
He warned people making purchases over the internet to be wary of any suspicious emails.
He said Customs was alerted to the scam by a Hotmail user who received a suspicious email.
Australian Customs had reported a similar email scam.
- NZPA
