NZ Man Jailed Over International Call Centre Scam That Stole Pensioner’s Life Savings
Auckland, NZ – A New Zealand man who acted as a “money mule” for an international call centre scam that drained the life savings of a vulnerable pensioner has been sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison.
Kanwarpal Singh appeared at the Manukau District Court on Thursday after admitting to 10 charges, including receiving stolen property and theft.
The court heard a victim impact statement from the woman, aged in her 80s, who lost $17,450 after receiving a call from a scammer posing as an Apple representative on June 3, 2023.
The Victim’s Devastation
The Palmerston North pensioner was convinced over three calls to download remote access software, allowing the international scammers to transfer her life savings out of her bank account.
Judge Ngaroma Tahana noted the profound impact of the crime:
- Financial Loss: The money was the victim’s life savings, cancelling a planned holiday.
- Emotional Impact: The woman “feels like a fool” and now finds it difficult to trust people.
Singh’s Role and Sentence
Court documents show $9,950 of the stolen money was transferred directly into Singh’s Kiwibank account. Singh then immediately withdrew $5,000 in cash and transferred thousands more to a cryptocurrency account before his account was frozen.
Singh’s lawyer stated that he went “off the rails” and started using drugs after the parents of his “life partner” arranged her marriage to another man.
Judge Tahana gave Singh credit for his early guilty pleas and his remorse, particularly his tangible offer to sell his car to pay back the remaining $6,450 still missing from the victim.
The Judge imposed special release conditions, including a requirement to undergo a drug rehabilitation programme, noting that the offending was “driven by your drug addiction.”
Police Warning: Always Be Vigilant
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton of Auckland’s Financial Crime Unit warned that scammers often target the elderly using sophisticated methods like remotely accessing computers.
KEY ADVICE:
- Banks, police, or other institutions will NEVER ring you and ask for banking details, passwords, or PINs.
- If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and contact the organisation directly using a number you have sourced independently.
- Report any suspected scam activity to your bank and the police immediately.
