Police and Facebook are warning the public to be aware of scammers operating on Facebook.
Police has received a number of recent reports in relation to a variety of Facebook pages of fraudulent companies claiming to sell computers and mobile phones.
The companies represented on the Facebook pages are legitimate NZ companies, however the Facebook pages are not associated with those companies.
Detective Senior Sergeant Bridget Doell from the Auckland City Police Financial Crime Unit, says these Facebook pages are being set up by scammers based offshore.
"Police have received multiple reports from people who transferred money into an account believing they were purchasing mobiles and laptops from fake Facebook pages and never received the items.
"We are warning the public to undertake due diligence before buying any goods online.
"Stick to verified, trusted online retailers and if you are purchasing goods online from a company you do not know, ensure the company is legitimate and has a publically listed phone number which connects to that business," says Detective Senior Sergeant Doell.
Nick McDonnell, Public Policy Manager for FB New Zealand, says this year many of us have been more reliant on technology to stay connected with families and friends in New Zealand and around the world.
"Unfortunately, scammers know this, and it's more important than ever that we all work together to stay vigilant against online scams.
"At Facebook, the safety and security of our users is our top priority. All apps in the Facebook family use the most sophisticated security software available, and this year we've made it easier to report suspicious content. We also publish guidelines on how to avoid online fraudsters, which can be found here.
