More than 100,000 credit cards may be replaced as a result of thieves hacking into payment machines at a central Auckland carpark.

An "evil" US con man who scammed victims in New Zealand, Australia and the US out of almost US$4 (NZ$5.6) million has been jailed.

Thieves have hacked into payment machines at an Auckland carpark and stolen the credit-card details of thousands of people - possibly for years.

More than 60 students and their parents have handed in fake drivers' licences at police stations since their alleged maker was arrested.

A self-proclaimed 'secret agent' has been accused of brain-washing and torturing a French family of aristocrats into giving him $6m of goods.

Police are still seeking Chinese help to find Leo Gao and Kara Hurring who skipped the country with millions of of Westpac's money.

A French court has fined the church of Scientology $1.2m for preying financially on vulnerable believers.

A US judge has ordered two NZ incorporated companies to pay US$40 million to 200 American investors for running a "mini Ponzi scheme".

A syndicate of scammers buys a luxury lifestyle after obtaining the credit card details of genuine bank customers.