Beware of rental property scammers
With the ski season approaching Police are warning of rental property scammers on the prowl and say prospective renters should “take all care” to confirm that those renting property are who they say they are.
“Once that money’s gone it’s gone and often to accounts offshore,” Sergeant Simon Matheson says. “The market’s tight at the moment and people jump in. It’s easy to create a fake listing.”
Matheson says people seeking rental addresses locate a listing on sites and then contact the person. The prospective renter then transfers funds to secure the property, or pays money as a bond or rent in advance. If it’s a false listing the person listing the property then takes the money and ends all contact.
“Meet the person offering accommodation in person, if you can, and if they say they’re offshore then ask for someone local – their friend or associate, or someone employed for cleaning, to meet you there,” Matheson says.
People are also getting caught out on sites like Facebook Marketplace where scammers target items like electronics, mountain bikes and other items in high demand. “They list the item, the buyer pays, and they say they’ll send you the item, but the buyer never hears from them again.”
In a recent local case, a person buying a vehicle lost several thousand dollars.
Confirm the identity, or the person, or organisation you’re corresponding with online and ensure they’re legitimate sellers and organisations, Matheson says.
“Use trusted websites with protections in place against rogue operators.” Netsafe provides advice and a list of current scams that are operating and what to look out for.
Two drivers around six times the limit
Police are urging other motorists to dob in drink drivers, day and night, with two more exceptionally high breath alcohol levels – both around six times the legal limit, clocked around Queenstown over Easter.
A local man allegedly blew 1535mcgs when stopped in Lake Hayes Estate just before noon on Saturday, while a Wellington man allegedly blew 1483mcgs in Fernhill on Monday night.
The highest level ever recorded in New Zealand is 2349mcg, almost 10 times the legal limit, in the Waitematā District back in 2012. Last year's record was 2178 micrograms, in Auckland..
Sergeant Simon Matheson says the local man was allegedly observed crossing the centre line multiple times on the Frankton-Ladies Mile highway. His vehicle was located at an Onslow Road address, Lake Hayes Estate, at 11.36am, on Saturday, 19 April.
He allegedly blew 1535mcgs but elected a blood test. Police are awaiting these results.
Then just after 11.15pm on Monday, 21 April, a Wellington man in his mid-20s allegedly blew 1483mcgs when he was stopped for a random breath alcohol test on Sainsbury Road in Fernhill. He was suspended from driving for 28 days and charged with driving with excess breath alcohol.
Drink driving is “not a night-time only problem”, Matheson says, and Police are urging motorists to report bad drivers who may appear to be impaired by alcohol, drugs, or just driving badly, by calling 111 immediately.
“There’s a perception that high levels are only detected in darkness, but people are drink driving early in the morning, the middle of the day, in the evening and at night,” he says.
“This offending is not limited to the hours of darkness, and we want people to report all incidents of bad driving by phoning 111.” People may think it’s just an unfamiliar tourist or bad driver, but Police still want to know. “You can help prevent a lot of harm on our roads.”
Planning ahead as to how you’re getting home is key – bus, taxi, Uber, Matheson says. “Look after each other and if you’re concerned about someone driving express that concern.”
Frankton Road speedster
Frankton Road attracted another speedster with a 34-year-old Central Otago man finally arrested just after 3am last Wednesday, 16 April, after allegedly speeding on three occasions, failing to stay within a lane and hitting a curb.
Matheson says Police did not pursue on all three occasions when the speeding driver failed to stop for them, concerned that the public could be put at risk. He was first observed just after 1am and Police located the vehicle two hours later on Hawthorne Drive. The driver’s been charged with failing to stop and refusing a blood sample.
His licence has been suspended for 28 days and vehicle impounded for six months.
‘Check It’s Alright’ before winter
The Queenstown Lakes District is now back in an open fire season with the restricted season lifted and winter approaching. Fire and Emergency
Otago Lakes group assistant commander Nic McQuillan is urging people to check their electric blankets and smoke detectors, get their chimneys swept, keep ‘one metre from the heater’ and store ashes for five days in a metal or fireproof bucket before disposing of them.
