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 former staffer of a NZ company allegedly claiming false links to Google says she was forced to make at least 100 cold calls a day to sell advertising.

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.

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 man charged with defrauding elderly people out of around $156,000 allegedly used some of the spoils to pay court-ordered reparation to previous victims.

Police say they are dealing with an increasing number of people being ripped off through simple scams.

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.

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.

The director of a water filter company which allegedly used fear tactics to sign up new customers is back before the Auckland District Court today.

More than 3000 cases of welfare fraud have been uncovered in the last six months through increased information sharing between Government departments.

It's been revealed the Southern DHB failed to file a submission before convicted fraudster Michael Swann faced the Parole Board last month.

Notions of convicted fraudster Michael Swann living in luxury while on parole are exaggerated, says Christchurch businessman Alasdair Cassels.

The mastermind of one of NZ's biggest public service frauds is about to be released from prison to live on a property "most of us can only dream about".

Legal action on bank fees has given fresh inspiration to scammers, warns the banking industry.

Brian Easton had supposedly won a prize with travel agent Embrace Holiday.