23yo Auckland man arrested for allegedly scamming elderly woman out of thousands

A 23-year-old West Auckland man has been arrested after allegedly scamming an “elderly” woman out of $15,600 by pretending to be from a New Zealand bank’s fraud team.

Police say the scam went down back in March 2025, when the woman received a call from someone claiming to be from her bank’s fraud department. 

The caller reportedly tricked her into handing over account details, and the cash was later withdrawn.

The fraud only came to light after the real bank’s fraud team flagged the unusual activity and contacted the woman about the large withdrawal from her account. 

An investigation quickly identified a person of interest, and police have been on the lookout ever since.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ash Matthew said in a statement from NZ Police that patrol officers spotted a vehicle linked to the suspect on St Lukes Road just before 1am today. 

They pulled over the car and confirmed the driver was the man wanted in connection with the scam.

Following his arrest, the 23-year-old was charged with money laundering and receiving property over $1,000. He is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on March 4.

Police are now reminding the public to be extra cautious of unexpected calls claiming to be from banks or government agencies, especially if they ask for personal or financial information.

While the suspect is young, his alleged actions have had a serious impact on the victim.

This is an important reminder that scams can happen to anyone, and staying vigilant is essential to avoid being targeted.