A phone scam in the disguise of a Red Cross assistance plan involving electricity account payments is targeting earthquake-hit Christchurch residents.
Police have been aware of the scam for a few weeks. Residents are advised to be cautious about providing bank and credit card details over the phone.
Callers claiming to be from Genesis Energy are offering Red Cross assistance for high electricity bills.
Both Genesis and the Red Cross say no such assistance is operating and that their staff would not call people and ask for personal information over the phone.
Police say that if people have doubts over similar phone calls, they should check with the organisation concerned directly.
