The number of people who unwittingly launder money for international scammers has doubled in three months, and police deal with new "money mule" reports every day.

An Auckland businesswoman alleged to be at the centre of a $9.2 million mortgage ramping scheme involving her siblings and friends has pleaded not guilty to 26 charges.

Wellington financial adviser David Ross pleads guilty to charges relating to running a Ponzi scheme.

In a little over nine months Xiao Lu and her former boyfriend Zhou Zhao defrauded Hamilton's SkyCity casino of more than $50,000 .

A retired engineer was stunned to discover a Kiwi passport in his name has been used by a man on the FBI's Most Wanted list to pull off a $180 million fraud.

David Ross, the Ponzi-accused former manager of Ross Asset Management appeared in court this morning, but all aspects of the hearing were suppressed.

A caregiver who admitted defrauding the benefit system of more than $274,000 says she did it because she "believed that she was two separate people".

Fraud police are investigating a New Zealand company calling itself GoogleDirectory.

Auckland Transport has called on external investigators to guide its inquiry into corruption claims and has stood down a senior manager on indefinite leave.

A struggling Chinese artist faked dozens of paintings as part of an elaborate US$80 million ($98.7 million) New York art fraud, prosecutors have alleged.

A scam that cost a business $18,000 has prompted a warning this week to be careful with invoicing.

Three directors of Dominion Finance and North South Finance were all sentenced to at least 10 months' home detention today.

Further fraud charges have been laid against a man accused of ripping off elderly people and using the money to pay court-ordered reparation to previous victims.

Two large public transport organisations - Auckland Transport and KiwiRail - are holding inquiries into separate allegations of corruption over contracts.

The Department of Internal Affairs has received a couple of complaints about a scam targeting people advertising for flatmates on Trade Me. Both should be ignored and usually lead to requests for money:

A body with the power to fine financial advisers or recommend they be deregistered will hear its first cases today.

Fake NZSki passes worth $40,000 have been seized by Queenstown police in a sting that led to a Malaysian holidaymaker being charged with seven forgery-related offences.

A celebrated children's author-turned-publisher has left the country, with a trail of unpaid debts and angry authors in her wake.

Fraudster Michael Swann was released from prison on parole yesterday, but his whereabouts remain unknown.

The man who defrauded the former Otago DHB of nearly $17m has left prison today a free man - albeit with a $6m pecuniary order.

The following text scams have been reported to the Department of Internal Affairs. If you receive one, or any text like them, do not reply.

Serious Fraud Office investigation and prosecution numbers have dropped by about a quarter but its boss warns that is no indication there is less white collar crime.

The director of a water filter company was unaware salesmen told customers tap water could cause leukaemia, cancer, miscarriages and birth defects, his lawyer says.