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
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