Alarm New Zealand

This map shows the fire season status as of 9am 02/02/2024.

🔴 If your area is in a red zone, there is a total fire ban. No fires are permitted.

🟡 If your area is in a yellow zone, you may need to apply for a permit. Go to www.checkitsalright.nz to check and apply.

🟢 If your area is in a green zone, you do not need a permit but go to www.checkitsalright.nz for safety tips before lighting.

Remember, the fire season status can change at any time.

Go to www.checkitsalright.nz for the latest information.

NZSA update - Security Guard killed whilst on duty

As we count down to the summer holidays, let's not forget to stay prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws our way. 🌧️⚡☀️

Check out some essential tips here www.getready.govt.nz/summer to add some crucial items to your summer checklist to make sure you and your whānau are summer-ready! 📝🌪️

☀️🏖️ Stay safe, stay prepared, and let the good times roll! 🌈

🚦👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

With severe weather warnings in place for parts of Aotearoa New Zealand this weekend, remember:
• Floods and flash floods can happen quickly. If you see rising water, do not wait for official warnings. Head for higher ground and stay away from floodwater.
• Never try to walk, swim or drive through flood water.
• If you need to leave your property, friends and whānau/family may be able to help. You can also contact your local CDEM group for advice about emergency accommodation.
Stay up to date with the weather at https://www.metservice.com/ and follow your local Civil Defence Group for local information. Check road conditions with NZTA https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/

‼️PSA: TRAINING EXERCISE‼️

If you’re on the Hauraki Gulf tomorrow, you’ll see a heavy Coastguard presence as we run our largest ever training exercise. These are a hugely important part of testing and training our amazing volunteers and the following units taking part: Coastguard Hibiscus, Coastguard North Shore, Auckland Coastguard, Waiheke Volunteer Coastguard, Howick Coastguard , Coastguard Maraetai and Titirangi Volunteer Coastguard.

We have representatives from around the motu observing and taking the learnings back to their unit and we’ll welcome Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard, Coastguard Nelson, Coastguard Marlborough, Coastguard Taranaki , Coastguard Bluff, Coastguard Riverton Coastguard Dunedin.

The Auckland City Financial Crime Unit are making arrests as investigations continue into reports of a scam type involving term deposits, duping victims out of millions of dollars.

This month a third significant arrest has been made for Money Laundering.

It comes after warnings to the public of the emerging sophisticated scam making the rounds, which involves a victim searching term deposits online.

The victim finds a bank they want to go with and provide their contact details on a ‘bank’ website, which is in fact a fake website run by a scammer.

The ‘bank’ then calls the victim to open a new term deposit, the victim transfers money into a New Zealand-based account held by a money mule who then sends the funds offshore.

Recently, Police executed a search warrant at a money mules address in West Auckland, seizing electronic evidence as part of an ongoing investigation into this type of offending.

Late last week, the money mule, a 60-year-old Auckland man was arrested and charged with two counts of money laundering. He is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on 8 June.

Police will allege the man involved is directly linked to two recent cases where two victims lost $950,000 and nearly $1 million respectively in this term deposit-style scam.

While this is a significant loss, Police are working closely with the banks to recover some of these funds and have since recovered more than $600,000 to date for one victim.

The arrest is the third instance that the Auckland City Financial Crime unit prosecuted in recent weeks.

Last month, Police arrested a 54-year-old in relation to an ongoing investigation into Money Laundering, which was reported to Police in February.

The man is before the Auckland District Court on multiple counts of money laundering. He is due to reappear on 1 August 2023 for a Case Review Hearing.

In a second incident, which involved a victim transferring $100,000 into a NZ based account, a second 54-year-old man is before the Court, also charged with Money Laundering and due to reappear on 15th June 2023.

This man has been charged with two counts of money laundering, the second charge of which relates to a separate victim.

Detectives from the Auckland based Financial Investigation Unit, travelled to Hamilton to locate this 54-year-old man, who later handed himself into Police.

While these are fantastic results for the victims involved, Police are reminding the community that unfortunately there are still people out there looking to exploit our most vulnerable members of the community.

Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, Officer in Charge of the Auckland City District Financial Crime Unit, has a clear message for money mules:

“If you are receiving money into your account from people you have not met and don’t know and keeping some of the money for yourself before sending the bulk of the money overseas - you are a money mule and you could be arrested and prosecuted for Money Laundering.

“If you think you are laundering money, I recommend that you advise your bank immediately and seriously consider self-reporting to the Police, rather than the Police knocking on your door with a search warrant or to arrest you.”

If you are the victim of one of these scams, we acknowledge the financial distress this can cause.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲:

◾ Search for ‘broker’ companies online before engaging with them
◾ Do your research - the Financial Market Authority (FMA) frequently publishes the names of suspicious companies on their website
◾ Talk to your bank or other finance professional before making online investments.

𝗔𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀, 𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳.

◾ We advise the public to keep an eye out for anything that doesn’t appear right
◾ Emails and social media scams are especially prevalent
◾ We urge anyone who sees something online they think might be attractive or a great deal to do their research, speak to friends and family, check with the FMA, and be vigilant about anything that seems out of the ordinary.

If you wish to report a social media scam, contact Police on 105 or report it online.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗲
• A money mule is someone who transfers illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else.
• They help launder the proceeds derived from online scams and fraud by allowing their personal bank account to receive money before the money mule transfers the money to an overseas bank account.
• A money mule receives a commission for their part in this crime, which normally involves retaining some of the money in their personal bank account before transferring the bulk amount overseas.
• Money mules in New Zealand have been recruited by overseas criminals & scammers.

📱 ⚠️ We’re testing the Emergency Mobile Alert (EMA) system on Sunday, 28 May, between 6-7pm.

The alert will be broadcast from cell towers across New Zealand to all capable phones. So, you don’t need to download an app or subscribe to a service to receive it.

In a real-life emergency situation, an alert may be sent to target areas affected by serious hazards. If you get an alert, stop, read the message, and take it seriously. It will tell you what the emergency is and what to do. It will also tell you which agency sent the message and if needed, where to go for more information.

Emergency Mobile Alerts are not meant to replace other emergency alerts or the need to take action after natural warnings. Don't wait for an official warning if you feel your life is in danger. Take immediate action.

Find out more about Emergency Mobile Alerts https://getready.govt.nz/en/prepared/stay-informed/emergency-mobile-alert