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.

An Auckland businesswoman accused over a $9.2 million mortgage ramping scheme is expected to enter a plea at her next appearance.

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 elderly accountant - who has been declared bankrupt twice since age 60 - was sentenced to three years, seven months in jail earlier this year.

An accounts clerk took advantage of her boss' wife's cancer when she stole more than $370,000 and spent it all on holidays in Australia, a court has been told.

Rick Bettle has resigned from the board of Diligent Board Member Services, as the trial for his role at failed lender Dominion Finance looms.

Taupo Mayor Rick Cooper says he's shattered by news the Taupo District Council is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office.

Imposters are cloning New Zealanders' Facebook profiles and winning over their friends before trying to con them out of money.

Convicted fraudster Tracy Hibberd will not appeal her conviction or sentence. Hibberd, 35, is serving an eight-month home-detention sentence for faking her early childhood teaching diploma.

A Chinese exporter made secret payments to managers of a New Zealand dairy-processing company that ordered products from the foreign firm, according to court documents.

Convicted $17 million fraudster Michael Swann was told at a parole hearing yesterday "there was light at the end of the tunnel".

David Ross' out-of-pocket investors expressed relief when the alleged Ponzi-schemer was arrested and charged yesterday, but he was bailed back to his luxury home.