In the quiet town of Waimate, South Canterbury, locals are used to looking out for each other.
But over the past few weeks, that trust has been tested — by a sophisticated banking scam that has already drained tens of thousands from residents’ accounts.
And according to multiple people in the area, it hasn’t stopped yet.
“They sounded exactly like my bank,” says Ray Thompson, 71, who lost $14,200 in just one phone call.
“Knew my account number, even my last transaction. I didn’t suspect a thing.”
It started with a call
Several Waimate locals say they received urgent-sounding phone calls, claiming to be from their bank’s fraud department.
The callers warned of suspicious activity, then walked victims through a “secure verification process” — which, in reality, gave scammers full access to their internet banking.
In some cases, the calls were followed by convincing text messages, spoofed to appear as if sent from real bank numbers.
“I even got a text saying ‘thank you for confirming your identity’,” says Jacqui, a retired nurse.
“It looked identical to the ones I’d gotten before. That’s what scared me most.”
Losses add up — and warnings too late?
Local police have confirmed they’re investigating at least six formal complaints in the area, with total reported losses over $80,000.
They believe more cases haven’t been reported, either out of embarrassment or confusion.
“These scammers are getting smarter,” says one Waimate officer.
“They’re using tools that make it look like the real deal. This isn’t a clumsy email scam — it’s professional.”
Banks have begun issuing warnings via their websites and social media. But for towns like Waimate, where many residents are elderly and don’t regularly check online updates, the alert came too late.
Still happening?
Locals say the calls haven’t stopped.
As recently as this week, multiple people in nearby towns like Temuka and Geraldine reported identical scam attempts — same caller script, same pressure tactics.
One caller even referenced a recent real fraud case, to build credibility.
“It’s like they’re watching us,” says Ray.
“They knew just enough to make you believe it.”
What you need to know
Authorities urge anyone receiving unexpected calls about their bank accounts to:
- Hang up immediately
- Call your bank using the official number (never a number provided by the caller)
- Report the incident to 105 (non-emergency police line) and to CERT NZ
No legitimate bank will ever ask for:
- Your full PIN or password
- Remote access to your device
- To move funds urgently “for your protection”
A town on edge
For a place like Waimate, where neighbours still leave their doors unlocked, the scam has been more than just financial — it’s shaken confidence.
“It’s not just money they took,” says Jacqui.
“It’s the sense that we can trust someone calling us. That’s gone now.”
And with no arrests yet made, many fear the scammers are still working their way through the phone book.
Stay alert. It may not be over.
