Source: Radio New Zealand
The alleged scam began online in 2006. (File photo) Unsplash/ Rupixen
A woman has been arrested over an alleged 18-year romance scam which saw a Dunedin man lose half a million dollars.
Police in Auckland and Dunedin worked together to make the arrest, with Dunedin police carrying out a search warrant and an Auclland home on Wednesday.
The Auckland City Financial Crime Unit helped out, police said.
A 44-year-old Ellerslie woman was arrested and faced a representative charge of obtains by deception.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Ali Ramsay, from the Auckland City Financial Crime Unit, said police would allege in court the scam had been running for 18 years after beginning online in 2006.
The woman had allegedly been given $525,537 during that time by the Dunedin man.
The woman was expected to appear in the Auckland District Court on 17 February.
“Our colleagues in Dunedin have been investigating this case, and we’re glad to have assisted in this result,” Ramsay said.
“Romance scams are usually perpetrated by offshore offenders, making prosecutions difficult for law enforcement.
“At the very heart of this are victims whose good nature is taken advantage of, causing emotional and financial stress.”
Police couldn’t comment about specifics in the case as the matter was now before the Courts.
Police reminded the public to be extremely cautious when meeting new people online or through dating applications.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
