Shoppers are being urged to stay alert as online scammers ramp up activity in the lead-up to Christmas. 

Police said they are seeing a rising number of fraud cases, with Facebook Marketplace a particular hotspot.

Southern District Police service delivery manager Senior Sergeant Blair Dalton said simple checks can prevent people from losing money during the busy shopping period.

“A good first step when looking to purchase something on Marketplace is to check when the seller’s Facebook profile was created,” he said.

He said recently created accounts carried a higher risk, and buyers should also ensure the seller’s profile name matches the bank account name provided.

“We’re seeing a lot of scammers claiming their bank account name is different because it belongs to their partner or family member – that’s a huge red flag,” Blair said.

He urged sellers not to rely on screenshots as proof of payment.

“Check your own bank account to make sure a payment has gone through,” he said. 

“Quite frankly, it’s best for all parties to agree to pay, or be paid, for items in cash and in-person. Ideally in a public place with CCTV coverage.”

Due diligence was essential for high-value purchases, particularly vehicles.

“If you’re buying a car on Marketplace, check Carjam.co.nz to see if it’s stolen or if there’s money owed on it,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Dalton said one piece of advice remained constant. “If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Police are also seeing an increase in scammers posing as banks through texts, phone calls and emails.

“Key things to remember are that a bank will never contact you asking for your login information,” he said. 

“Your bank will also never ask you to withdraw cash or ask you to deliver your bank card for collection.”

Anyone with concerns should contact their bank immediately and report what has happened.

“Suspicious activity can also be reported on 105,” he said.

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