These agencies would also never use money transfer services such as Western Union. Several Indian nationals living in New Zealand have been targeted in an elaborate phone scam in which they're told they're wanted for tax evasion and must pay up with Apple iTunes cards to avoid deportation. For example, banks, Immigration New Zealand or Inland Revenue never email, call or text customers to ask for money to be sent using money transfer services. Police are aware of several cases where people have purchased between $500 and $5000 worth of iTunes vouchers for the scammers, who claim to be calling from Immigration New Zealand. "Our advice to anyone who is targeted by this scam is to hang up immediately," Mr Glossop said.

Source: New Zealand Herald June 22, 2016 05:37 UTC