Two British nationals, Alvin Agyeman Acheampong and Alexander Manfo, have been sentenced and will be deported following their involvement in a massive text phishing scam that targeted New Zealand citizens. The scam, which allegedly sent out millions of fraudulent messages, left victims losing between $10,000 and $100,000.
Both men, aged 19, appeared in the Auckland District Court on Tuesday. Acheampong was handed a two-year prison sentence after being convicted of multiple charges related to the fraud. These charges included accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes, obtaining documents for financial gain, and possessing items intended to facilitate the scam.
In contrast, Manfo received a 400-hour community service sentence and was fined $3,400. He will leave New Zealand later this week, with Acheampong following after his prison term ends.
The scam, which affected hundreds of New Zealanders, was uncovered earlier this year. Police, in collaboration with the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), executed a search warrant at the pair’s Auckland apartment in February. Investigations revealed that, in just five days, the pair had sent over 12,000 fraudulent text messages to unsuspecting New Zealanders, impersonating trusted organizations to steal money.
Senior Sergeant Craig Bolton, from the Auckland City Financial Crime Unit, said this case was notable for being one of the first to charge individuals for complex cybercrimes of this nature. He emphasized the continuing threat of such scams and the importance of vigilance when dealing with unsolicited text or email messages containing links.
“This scam has caused a lot of harm and frustration for Kiwis, and we hope this prison sentence sends a clear message to others involved in similar activities,” Bolton stated. “We are committed to working closely with our partners to ensure cybercriminals are held accountable.”
The success of the operation was largely attributed to public reporting, which helped authorities trace the scammers. Joe Teo from the DIA echoed these sentiments, warning that scams, especially phishing attempts, not only harm individuals financially but also leave long-lasting psychological effects.
“We are sending a clear message: scammers will be caught, and they will face the full consequences of their actions,” Teo remarked.
