Scammers claiming to work for telecommunications company Spark have successfully scammed elderly New Zealanders out of thousands of dollars. The scammers contact the victim, saying they need to speak to them about issues with their Spark account or computer. In the Tasman area alone, three elderly residents have been conned out of a total of $120,000. "If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from Spark who asks for your personal information, end the call immediately." Anyone who believes they've been targeted by the scam should report it to the Consumer Protection Scamwatch website, at www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/get-guidance/scams-and-online-safety/scams.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 02, 2017 03:33 UTC