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Police are warning Kiwis to be on their guard following scams perpetrated by overseas visitors.
Most recently, a UK national has been facing court after scamming tens of thousands of dollars from an Auckland couple for a fake paint job, Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton confirms.
“In early March, the pair allegedly dropped a flyer in a Mt Albert mailbox advertising a fake painting company,” he says. “Unfortunately, the unassuming victims have engaged the services of the bogus company and handed over $27,000 as a deposit.”
The next day, an associate turned up and carried out a lazy sanding job on the exterior over the next two days, police assert. This lazy handyman never returned.
The con was perpetrated using a fake company called Everlast Home Improvements. There may be more victims, Bolton says.
“Police are very keen to hear from anyone in the Auckland region, or further afield who have received such a flyer and have handed over any money. If you haven’t received the services that you’ve put a deposit down on, it’s highly likely you’ve been scammed, and we need to hear from you.”
While Auckland Central police were investigating this case, their Counties Manukau colleagues arrested the errant painters for other dishonesty offending – five shoplifting offences and obtaining by deception at a Manukau hardware store.
Andrew Yeshua Glauberman (21) has appeared in the Auckland District Court and pleaded guilty to two fraud offences and a handful of shoplifting offences. While his associate has “scarpered”, police confirm, a warrant has been issued for Thomas Jay Taylor (29), for obtaining by deception.
“If Taylor returns to New Zealand, he will receive a welcoming committee from New Zealand Police and he will be arrested,” Bolton says.
The case marks the fourteenth time Auckland City fraud detectives have busted overseas visitors using a revolving wheel of scams against Kiwis in the past three years.
Police are sending a firm message that New Zealand is a not a soft target, with most offenders facing jail time and deportation.
“Think again,” Bolton says. “Kiwis take a very dim view of scammers and those who seek to take advantage of our good nature, and this offending is not welcome here.
“We have a team of very committed fraud detectives who are working hard to prosecute this offending.”
In many cases, foreign nationals charged due to fraud offending have found themselves in custody for much of their stay, Bolton adds.
“These visitors underestimate the stance our courts are taking on this offending, police are opposing defendants’ bail and, in many cases, bail is being refused.”
Police continue to work with Immigration New Zealand to combat migrant offending.
People who think they may have fallen victim to the painting scam should visit 105.police.govt.nz or call 105.
