Auckland City Downtown Police are warning people of a current e-mail scam whereby people are contacted via e-mail in relation to a product or service that they may be advertising on the internet.
Downtown Police are dealing with a number of incidents from the last two days where fake traveller's cheques are being presented for payment at banks in the centre of Auckland as a result of an attempted scam that originates offshore, probably England.
Enquires are being carried out to confirm the country of origin of the e-mails.
The scammers are finding products or services for sale on the internet and offering a payment in excess of the asking price in the form of traveller's cheques.
They will then ask the recipient to cash the cheques and return the overpayment by way of a Western Union Money Transfer back to the scammer.
All overseas traveller's cheques received should be treated with suspicion and should not be accepted by members of the public as a mode of payment.
Downtown Police would like to hear from anyone who may have received similar e-mails. Please contact Sgt Rachel Wood on 09 379 4500 or rwg497@police.govt.nz if you have further information.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz