Police are aware of reports emerging in several police districts where people have received a scam phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer.

Southern Districts operations manager, Inspector Matt Scoles is urging locals across the wider district to be alert to the scam.

"The ‘officer’ will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or a scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial information from you," he said.

"This is a scam – no legitimate police officer will ever ask you to hand over money, for any reason.

"If you want to establish if the officer is genuine, ask for the officer’s full details.

"Hang up, contact 105 and request someone to check for you."

Older members of the community are being targeted and police urge anyone with older, vulnerable relatives or friends to make them aware of this activity.

Three people are currently before the courts in relation to scamming vulnerable people in the Auckland and Wellington Districts.

One of these, a 26-year-old UK national, has since been convicted of scamming more than $330,000 out of victims.

New Zealand Police will never contact people seeking their banking details, card numbers, PIN, or passwords.