Phone scammers target NZ

New Zealanders and Australians have become a target of a phone scam that has reaped millions of dollars.

At least one person in Australia has lost almost $2 million and police there are warning people to hang up immediately if they receive a call or a voicemail from a stranger speaking in Mandarin.

Last year, NZ police issued a warning to the public after reports of a scam using the Chinese Embassy phone number.

In the past few months, the scam has resurfaced, with people getting calls and voice messages in Mandarin from people they don’t know.

The calls are in relation to a variety of topics, such as having property to pick up from the embassy, that their credit card has been used without authority or that they need to call a phone number in Beijing.

“Government agencies will never call you to ask for your bank account or credit card details by phone,” police said.

If someone thinks they have been scammed, police urge them to report the incident as soon as possible.

They also advise the public to warn friends and family so that others in the community are also aware.

The scammer usually demands money and threatens harm to the victim, as well as their friends and family, if the demands are not met.

The call usually starts with a message in English or Mandarin, and then transfers to a person claiming to be from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate.