After receiving the payment, the business paid the fraudulent freight company, which used several different bank accounts, to ship the orders.
In total, the company paid the freight company about $69,000.
The credit card company then disputed the payments because the cards were stolen and the Hāwera business had to return the money Ned paid, leaving them out of pocket all the money spent on shipping.
Police said they are working with the financial institutions involved and are continuing to make enquiries.
They are advising businesses to take extra care with new clients and use their own reputable company to ship goods. Businesses should report suspicious financial activity including organisations using multiple or declined credit cards.
Anyone who has been the victim of a scam of this nature is asked to contact Police on 105.
