jessica shapiro/Stuff
Stolen credit cards are believed to be involved in a scam which saw a South Taranaki business lose $69,000. (File Photo)
Police are urging businesses to be vigilant in the face of a scam, which saw a South Taranaki venture lose $69,000.
In the Hāwera case, police said the business was approached by a man using the name Ned, who posed as a customer and agreed to make several purchases.
Ned asked for the orders to be shipped to him using a particular freight company, which police said was not a legitimate enterprise and was owned by the alleged fraudster.
As part of the transaction, Ned paid invoices with credit cards.
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Police said once the payment was received, the Hāwera business then paid the freight company to ship the orders.
The total amount paid out was $69,000.
However, the credit card company then disputed the payments and the Hāwera company had to return the money Ned had paid, leaving them out of pocket.
Police, who continue to investigate the case, said it believed the payments were in dispute because the credit cards used had been stolen.
Anyone who has been the victim of a scam of this nature is asked to contact police on 105.
