A man who has allegedly been scamming elderly Aucklanders out of their money has been arrested, police said on Friday.
According to a statement released on Friday afternoon, the 33-year-old man has been knocking on doors in the west Auckland suburbs of Ranui and Henderson, "telling fictitious stories to get sympathy and hundreds of dollars out of elderly residents".
Concerns about the man's activities have been raised by members of local community Facebook groups.
One of the stories was that the man needed petrol money to visit his wife, who had just been in an accident, police said.
"Police made a number of extensive enquiries, including reviewing CCTV footage, after receiving numerous reports about this" and arrested the man earlier this week.
He has been charged with multiple counts of Obtains by Deception.
"He has since appeared in the Waitakere District Court and has been remanded in custody. Police want to thank those residents who reported this to police."
Police also had some reminders for Kiwis.
"We continue to encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour in their neighbourhood to contact Police.
"If a stranger comes to your door offering a service, you should always ask to see their photo identification. Don't open the door to strangers and don't be afraid to say no.
"Always keep your door locked, even if you are just in your garden. If you think someone is trying to cheat you, contact the Police.
"And lastly, please look out for your neighbours and elderly residents in your community."
More information about possible scams can be found here.
