Police fraud investigators seek identity of two people caught on bank video

Police believe an organised group have been perpetrating a sophisticated fraud on Auckland banks for at least six months.

Now Police would like to hear from anyone who may be able to identify two people who have been photographed while they were withdrawing money from bogus accounts.

Police believe this group has somehow intercepted mail, taken cheques from envelopes, altered the names and amounts then used fake identification to open accounts in the altered names, deposited the cheque and have set about withdrawing the money once the cheque has cleared.

&#34The banks have been very vigilant and have managed to shut down most of the accounts before the whole amount has been withdrawn&#34, said Detective Constable Tasha Carley.

&#34Despite this, the group have got away with $300,000 so far and so it’s a timely reminder to all bank staff to be extra careful when checking identification and scrutinising cheques&#34.

&#34Right now we’d really appreciate the public’s help in identifying these two so we can shut down this scam&#34.

All of the cheques that have been altered were hand written, many of them from small -- medium sized Auckland businesses.