Police Searching for Fraud Offenders

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Tuesday, 4 March 2014 - 2:03pm

Counties Manukau

Counties Manukau Police are looking for two offenders who have committed similar crimes.

In the first instance, an elderly man has had his wallet stolen on 20 January 2014. A woman was then seen withdrawing money from several ATMs in Otara using bank cards from the stolen wallet.

This woman is pictured on 28 January 2014 at the ASB Otara ATM.

In the second case, the victim dropped his wallet on Great South Road, Papatoetoe on 22 January 2014. A man is later pictured using the cards used to withdraw a large amount of cash from the victim's bank account at ANZ ATMs in Hunters Corner and Papatoetoe.

Police do not believe the cases are linked, however the type of offending is under similar circumstances where bank cards have been obtained by an unknown person to fraudulently withdraw money from a victim's bank account.

Detective Malakai Tohi of the Counties Manukau Police Financial Investigation Group is interested to hear from anyone who may recognise either of the two people pictured in the bank CCTV footage.

"These offenders have shown that they have no issue using someone else's cards to get access to their money," he says. "We'd like to apprehend them as soon as possible and we know that someone will recognise the people in the pictures."

Police remind members of the public that bank cards should be cancelled as soon possible when you think they are stolen or lost.

HAVE YOUR BANK CARDS BEEN STOLEN?

• Arrange to have your cards cancelled by your bank - if possible go into your nearest branch, otherwise call the number provided on your bank's website
• Report the crime to Police
• Do not give your PIN number to anyone
• Do not write your PIN number down with your bank cards
• Tell Police if you receive any suspicious phone call asking for your PIN number
• Your bank or the Police will never ask you for your PIN number

Anyone who recognises the people pictured should call Detective Malakai Tohi on 09 262 2662 or 021 191 6137. Information can be reported anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Reference number for the woman: 140121/7222
Reference number for the man: 140123/4669

ENDS

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