Cyber casanova an international fraudster

Waikato Police on the trail of an international fraudster are warning vulnerable women that the old adage; 'if it appears too good to be true it probably is' applies not only to sales deals but cyber-Casanovas as well. Detective Simon Everson of the Waihi CIB said investigators are currently working on a case in which an amorous Ghanaian man befriends New Zealand women on line and persuades them to forward parcels on to him at a PO box in his nation's capital, Accra. "Using the name Paul Blart, the man uses stolen overseas credit card numbers to purchase various items from New Zealand companies' websites and gets them delivered to the women's addresses by courier. "We originally became aware of this after the man befriended a local woman on a social networking site on the net who he charmed with champagne and flowers and we've since become aware of a second woman in Wanganui." Mr Everson said the man tells the women a story about working in Ghana and having difficulty getting things sent to him. He then asks if he can use their addresses to get items from various New Zealand companies sent to them to alleviate this problem. "When they agreed he asks if the women can send them on to him, packages then began arriving addressed to the women at their homes or to him using his false name. "Our enquiries have established that this man has committed similar internet based offending around the country and convinced other woman to receive fraudulently obtained goods." A number of laptops, digital cameras and projectors delivered to the local woman's address have been recovered by Police and the woman is cooperating fully with the inquiry team. Mr Everson said Police want to remind the public they risk facing criminal charges if they knowingly receive fraudulently obtained goods, even if the intention is to send them on overseas. "This type of offending isn't new and this type of offender preys on his victims' vulnerability. "We're asking on-line businesses to be vigilant in relation to this type of on-line offending which is becoming more prevalent lately." Anyone with information on this matter or who may have been contacted by these internet fraudsters is asked to contact Detective Simon Everson of the Waihi CIB on 07 8638179. Alternatively information can be left anonymously on the Crimestoppers crimeline; 0800 555111. Note to media; Mr Everson is currently away and unavailable for comment today. End