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.

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.

A woman who stole nearly $450,000 from a prominent Auckland couple could not be sentenced as planned today as the presiding judge knew her victims.

A management restructure at Immigration New Zealand will result in 50 branch and regional managerial positions being disestablished.

A convicted killer who stole the identity of a brain-damaged man appeared in an Australian court several times before police realised who he really was.

A British man, who escaped UK jail after stabbing his aunt 70 times, has been living in NZ, where he stole a disabled man's identity

A widow broke down as she told a court that her first holiday without her husband of 40 years was ruined by an internet scam.

A former North Island mayor has applied for the High Court to dismiss some of the charges he is facing in a Serious Fraud Office case.

The Bank of New Zealand has refunded $4 million to 90,000 customers.

A Vatican official already under investigation in a purported money-laundering plot involving the Vatican bank was arrested yesterday in a separate operation.

More than half a decade after authorities began probing the failed Five Star Group, founder Neill Williams has pleaded guilty to the last of the charges he faced.

The last men standing from Dominion Finance have now pleaded guilty but could still face further court action if authorities continue with their civil case against the firm's directors and seek penalties of up to $500,000 from each of them.

Dominion Finance and North South Finance directors Rick Bettle and Vance Arkinstall have pleaded guilty to five Securities Act charges in the High Court.