Scam warning

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

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