Teen arrested for 'smishing scam' using technology never before seen in New Zealand (2025)

A teenager has been arrested after police disrupted a "sophisticated smishing scam" using technology never seen in New Zealand before.

In a statement, police said the Department of Internal Affairs was made aware of the scam in July.

Multiple agencies, including Australia's cybercrime team, soon launched Operation Orca.

Police described smishing - a form of phishing - as when a device known as an SMS Blaster is used as a fake cell tower and tricks nearby cellphones to connect to its fraudulent network.

The SMS Blaster can then send texts, claiming to be from banks to try get people to share their personal information like passwords and credit card details.

Police executed a search warrant at an address in central Auckland on 23 August where they arrested a 19-year-old man and seized a smishing device.

Detective Superintendent Greg Williams said this was the first case ever of such a device being used in New Zealand.

"By working together, we have been able to counter this technology, locate the alleged offender and prevent what could have been large-scale financial losses for many New Zealanders.

"The device in question is believed to have sent thousands of scam text messages, including around 700 in one night.

"The text claimed the recipient's bank account was being checked for fraudulent funds and urged them to click a verification link."

Williams said about 120 people are known to have been affected by this scam but no one has lost any money.

"Cyber-enabled scams are becoming increasingly prevalent, with unscrupulous fraudsters stopping at nothing in their attempts to swindle innocent people out of their hard-earned money," he said.

"NZ Police recognise the life-changing impact of financial crime and will continue to work closely with partner agencies and private industries to keep New Zealanders safe."

Banks said they are continuing to monitor customer transactions in real-time to minimise risk.

The teenager has been charged with interfering with a computer system and will next appear in Auckland District Court on 10 December.

Copyright © 2024, Radio New Zealand

• Scams cost New Zealanders $4.2m, with 'smishing' on the rise

  13 Sep 2023

  

  Fraudsters stole just over $4.2 million from New Zealanders between April and June, with text message scams on the rise. Audio

  Scams cost New Zealanders $4.2m, with 'smishing' on the rise

• Scammers took almost $200m from Kiwis last year - report

  13 Nov 2023

  

  Nearly $200 million was lost by New Zealanders to scams over the past year according to 11 of the country's largest financial institutions.

  Scammers took almost $200m from Kiwis last year - report

• Teens charged over mass text scam

  22 Feb 2024

  

  Police say up to $100,000 may have been stolen from some victims, with millions of messages sent.

  Teens charged over scams that sent millions of texts to New Zealanders

• Number of reported scams drops, but 'underreporting is still happening'

  20 Mar 2024

  

  The number of scams reported in the final quarter of 2023 dropped by 24 percent, but New Zealanders are being warned that it should not be taken as a sign that scammers are giving up.

  Number of reported scams drops, but 'underreporting is still happening'

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs