Banks, social media companies, government agencies and police urgently need to collaborate to tackle a rise in so-called “romance” scams and online fraud, the Banking Ombudsman says.
The ombudsman is calling for a review of the current framework when it comes to bank processes and consumer protections for scams.
A Stuff investigation revealed at least three New Zealand women, Joanne, Donna, and Samantha – not their real names – have been tricked into giving more than $2 million between them to men they met through the online dating app Tinder in near-identical cons.
Police say millions of dollars a year are being swindled from women in romance scams, believed to be run by organised criminal groups based offshore.
READ MORE:
* Greens want inquiry into banks’ responses to scams following Tinder swindler cons
* ‘You’re kidding me’: Woman who lost $517k to Tinder swindler years ago ‘blown away’ to see another woman duped
* Presenter in Tinder swindler’s fake news video thought she was helping people learn English
* ‘Prince Charming’ Tinder swindler targeted Kiwi women for years
* How a ‘prince charming’ Tinder swindler conned a woman out of $540k
Following the revelations, Parliament’s finance and expenditure committee agreed to open a briefing on the responsibility of banks in identifying and protecting customers when it comes to the “hallmarks” and “red flags” of such scams.
Ross Giblin/Stuff
Banking Ombudsman Nicola Sladden appeared before Parliament’s…
