A British national, Jack Dylan Hennessy, has admitted to 27 charges, including 25 counts of obtaining money by deception, for pretending to be a police officer and defrauding multiple victims of $337,700.
Hennessy was arrested after a foot chase through central Auckland in June. He was accused of cold-calling victims, pretending to be a police officer, and telling a story about needing their assistance with an investigation.
The majority of victims were aged between 56 and 90, with the majority over 80. Hennessy was remanded in custody for sentencing at the Auckland District Court on November 14. Another UK national was also arrested earlier this month.
Police have announced that a 24-year-old man, allegedly conducting a similar scam, was arrested in Auckland yesterday following a few complaints reported to police from across the city.
Police are monitoring a third round of the scam, in which victims were tricked into withdrawing money to assist in a “covert operation.”
The man was charged with attempting to obtain by deception and will appear in the Waitākere District Court tomorrow. Police continueg to investigate the wider operation and cannot rule out further arrests or charges being laid.
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