By 1News Reporters
In a recent Auckland District Court ruling, Jack Dylan Hennessy was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for his role in a sophisticated confidence scam that targeted Auckland residents earlier this year. Hennessy, aged 26, was convicted on 27 charges, including 25 counts of obtaining by deception, after defrauding victims of a total of $337,700.
The scam involved cold-calling victims and convincing them to assist with a supposed “covert police operation.” Victims were tricked into withdrawing large sums of money, which were later collected in person by a man impersonating a police officer. Hennessy was apprehended following a foot chase through central Auckland in June, and he pleaded guilty to the charges in August.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, from Auckland City’s Financial Crime Unit, emphasized the determination of investigators to track down those behind the scam. “A short visit to rip off New Zealanders has turned into a three-year prison sentence,” he said. He further warned that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others considering similar crimes.
Hennessy’s sentence is part of a broader crackdown on the scam, which involved offshore organised criminal groups. Two other men were also charged in connection with the scam: one UK national was charged in Wellington after his arrest in August, and a 24-year-old Auckland man is facing charges in relation to a separate instance in which police intercepted him as he attempted to collect money from a victim.
Detective Bolton stressed the significant impact of such scams on victims, many of whom are vulnerable members of the community. “While this may seem like a victimless crime or a quick way to make money for some, the financial and emotional consequences for victims can be devastating,” he said.
In light of the court ruling, authorities are hoping to send a clear message to both the organised crime groups running such scams and to anyone tempted to participate: New Zealand is not an easy target for fraud.
