license information scam?

My partner has had unsolicited emails and text messages from a Matt Jones of the NZ police seeking to confirm her license information.

Seeking to get her to give all the information needed to steal her identify over insecure and unverified communications. How do we know who this Matt Jones person even is.

If they have her name, phone and email already, how can they not know her licence number and address and the other information they are demanding.

Anyone aware of any scams like this going around?

Not wanting to call the police to confirm.

all thanks to a data breach id suspect

Quote:

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Originally Posted by exegenisis

My partner has had unsolicited emails and text messages from a Matt Jones of the NZ police seeking to confirm her license information.

Seeking to get her to give all the information needed to steal her identify over insecure and unverified communications. How do we know who this Matt Jones person even is.

If they have her name, phone and email already, how can they not know her licence number and address and the other information they are demanding.

Anyone aware of any scams like this going around?

Not wanting to call the police to confirm.

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A quick google gives - Detective Matt Jones of the Queenstown Police (03) 441 1600

https://www.google.com/search?client...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

t'were me, I'd give him a call and ask him why he needed know and that I'd be happy to answer any questions with legal representation.

And if it is a scam then Mr Matt should know this is happening...

Initially, I note you are not willing to contact the Police to confirm the authenticity of "Matt." Which would be the logical action.
Next I see the tones of concern in your thread post Understandable.
Followed by your request for information from us about "Matt."

I am left wondering what is the purpose of your post. If to warn others about a scam, Well Done.

REGARDLESS, i can tell you that I have not received such a "request" but I don't think that you are much further towards reaching a satisfactory resolution of this conundrum.

If it is a scam and from what you have told us, I don't think it is, my impression is that someone is acting outside of their "Police duties" If so, there are many who would wish to be aware of such a breach; COLFO and David Seymour to mention just a couple.

PLEASE CONSIDER CONTACTING

COLFO https://tinyurl.com/ycmhn8rj list your telephone number and ask them to telephone you.

David Seymour ACT's Head office details PHONE 09 523 0470 EMAIL info@act.org.nz

The North Shore AO texted me last year to discuss range attendances and the initial contact was via text message but the number was a 4 digit number like you would expect as a notice. And to close off the discussion, it was also via text message.

Why would someone from the Queenstown police be contacting someone in Palmy (I assume Palmerston North...) about their FAL?
Sounds dodgy to me.

He might live in the real Palmy, home of the mutton pie.

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Originally Posted by Marty Henry

He might live in the real Palmy, home of the mutton pie.

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@Marty Henry apparently not as good as they used to be.
Bakery in Dunedin do one more like you are thinking

My stbx wife just sent me this text

Have you got this email

FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDER FOR *WELLINGTON DISTRICT* - CONFIRMATION OF CONTACT DETAILS

Related?

Sent from my ELE-L09 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Marty Henry apparently not as good as they used to be.
Bakery in Dunedin do one more like you are thinking

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You mean the good ones that had a hole in the top and which turned the paper bag see through instantly you could pour the fat out the hole.
Last time I had one from palmerston it had mint in it and so little meat I thought I had got the vegan option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Marty Henry apparently not as good as they used to be.
Bakery in Dunedin do one more like you are thinking

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mmmmmm used to be MacGregors mutton Pies.
Bite the corner, tip and allow the fat to drain for a good 2 mins then bite down on the goodness of the spiced Mutton and baked lard pastry - southern goodness right there.
Best Pies - were Jimmys Pies from Roxburgh Central Otago though or Marlow Street Bakery in Tainui.

Mmmmmm

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aetchell

My stbx wife just sent me this text Have you got this email FIREARMS LICENCE HOLDER FOR *WELLINGTON DISTRICT* - CONFIRMATION OF CONTACT DETAILS Related? Sent from my ELE-L09 using Tapatalk

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Until the recipients of these approaches start attaching images of what they have received so we can all see, who knows...............

Yep i am in Palmerston North.

The intent of the post was to see if anyone else had received these messages and if there was any inclination as to whether these are scam or not.

Why would an officer in qtown contact us?

They know all our details, there is nothing to confirm... No information has changed. So far as I am aware we are breaking no laws by not responding to a dubious request.

As to whether i contact the police, to confirm... The onus is on them to contact us through official channels, and to use communication methods not commonly associated with phishing scams.

The wording of the emails and text reeks of scam. I have had multiple security training sessions at work and these communications break almost every rule.

You never ask for a direct reply with personal information. You always ask the person to contact you by callibg main office etc or to navigate to an online form themselves. Never click links or call the number in an email, or reply with info requested in an email.

BTW email headers are possible to fake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by exegenisis

Yep i am in Palmerston North.

The intent of the post was to see if anyone else had received these messages and if there was any inclination as to whether these are scam or not.

Why would an officer in qtown contact us?

They know all our details, there is nothing to confirm... No information has changed. So far as I am aware we are breaking no laws by not responding to a dubious request.

As to whether i contact the police, to confirm... The onus is on them to contact us through official channels, and to use communication methods not commonly associated with phishing scams.

The wording of the emails and text reeks of scam. I have had multiple security training sessions at work and these communications break almost every rule.

You never ask for a direct reply with personal information. You always ask the person to contact you by callibg main office etc or to navigate to an online form themselves. Never click links or call the number in an email, or reply with info requested in an email.

BTW email headers are possible to fake.

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The closest AO to Queenstown is Dunners. I sold a rifle to Wanaka a couple of weeks ago and it was hard work for the guy to get the appropriate form signed?

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Originally Posted by Kiwi Sapper

Until the recipients of these approaches start attaching images of what they have received so we can all see, who knows...............

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Quite right, could be trolling.

It always amazes me how people, whose entire world is lived through their phones and one or two social media apps, cannot even take a screenshot or work out how to do simple stuff, that us older farts find second nature.


I can remember when as a teenager, I got a Casio hand held calculator! it had √ on it !

An email or phone call to the police will either confirm or disprove this email. If fraudulent it will also alert the police to the fact it is happening so they can pursue whom ever is behind the fake emails and deal to them accordingly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by csmiffy

@Marty Henry apparently not as good as they used to be.
Bakery in Dunedin do one more like you are thinking

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Which one? Will have to give it a go next time I'm down that way

Sent from my SM-G390Y using Tapatalk

Or maybe I don't want to post screenshots, because I can't be arsed as they were on my partners phone and she has already deleted them - yes they can still be had but what is the point? I have already explained the content and why I am suspicious, and why I will not respond. I will not confirm with the police because the onus is on them, and the less contact I have with that institution the better.

Thanks to the member who confirmed they had received similar communication.

I will wait for a more formal, less suspicious communication such as an email or letter asking me to call the local station.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by exegenisis

Yep i am in Palmerston North.

The intent of the post was to see if anyone else had received these messages and if there was any inclination as to whether these are scam or not.

Why would an officer in qtown contact us?

They know all our details, there is nothing to confirm... No information has changed. So far as I am aware we are breaking no laws by not responding to a dubious request.

As to whether i contact the police, to confirm... The onus is on them to contact us through official channels, and to use communication methods not commonly associated with phishing scams.

The wording of the emails and text reeks of scam. I have had multiple security training sessions at work and these communications break almost every rule.

You never ask for a direct reply with personal information. You always ask the person to contact you by calling main office etc or to navigate to an online form themselves. Never click links or call the number in an email, or reply with info requested in an email.

BTW email headers are possible to fake.

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This is why, up until November '19 as a shop we were required to obtain the ORIGINAL paperwork for a S43A form for mail order of firearms. Our local AO was insistent that scans and faxes were unacceptable as there was no way of identifying a fraudulent. Even scans and emails from police email addresses were unacceptable. The original will have pen indentations and a clear stamp "ink" over the signature. Then Auntie Cindy told us all that were were ONLY allowed to accept scans from a police station even though there is no way of verifying easily that this is where the email came from.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by exegenisis

BTW email headers are possible to fake.

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Email headers will tell you everything you need, to determine if the email is legit or not.
If it's passed SPF, DKIM, DMARC, you can confidently assume it's coming from the domain it claims to be.
At the minimum it will have the email return path, so you can verify that it is going to the correct domain, and not a gmail, outlook.com, etc mail address.

The other points around links, embedded email addresses not matching, signature block missing, etc, all back this up very quickly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by quentin

Email headers will tell you everything you need, to determine if the email is legit or not.
If it's passed SPF, DKIM, DMARC, you can confidently assume it's coming from the domain it claims to be.
At the minimum it will have the email return path, so you can verify that it is going to the correct domain, and not a gmail, outlook.com, etc mail address.

The other points around links, embedded email addresses not matching, signature block missing, etc, all back this up very quickly.

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fuck man we are hunters and collectors , layman's terms would be good however I agree with the original op ...if its important they will make proper contact via more exactable means otherwise treat it like spam and completely ignore it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by exegenisis

Yep i am in Palmerston North.

The intent of the post was to see if anyone else had received these messages and if there was any inclination as to whether these are scam or not.

Why would an officer in qtown contact us?

They know all our details, there is nothing to confirm... No information has changed. So far as I am aware we are breaking no laws by not responding to a dubious request.

As to whether i contact the police, to confirm... The onus is on them to contact us through official channels, and to use communication methods not commonly associated with phishing scams.

The wording of the emails and text reeks of scam. I have had multiple security training sessions at work and these communications break almost every rule.

You never ask for a direct reply with personal information. You always ask the person to contact you by callibg main office etc or to navigate to an online form themselves. Never click links or call the number in an email, or reply with info requested in an email.

BTW email headers are possible to fake.

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@exegenisis There's another Matthew Jones who works for the Police... his role is in Firearms Administration.

As mentioned above... his e-mail will end @police.govt.nz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Boaraxa

fuck man we are hunters and collectors , layman's terms would be good however I agree with the original op ...if its important they will make proper contact via more exactable means otherwise treat it like spam and completely ignore it.

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Fair call.

TBH, like most things, it's easy when you know what you are looking for. Most mail clients allow you to view the original message, headers and all. It's not an easy read, hence why these are not shown by default. Google for example make some of this really easy, and tend to flag emails that do not pass these checks with a big red banner, advising someone is possibly trying to scam you.

If you feel inclined to check for yourself, it's easy to do. Screenshot attached of how to do this in GMail.
Attachment 143072

Thanks quentin for taking the time with us oiks

I just recieved an unsolicited call from 'Emma' at 'New Zealand Police firearms.'
Click brrrrrrrrr

If my bank calls me unsolicited, I always ask for an extension number or person and tell them I am calling back through the main switch board to contact them.
Bank emails never contain links to your account etc, nor does IRD. They always say something along the lines of "new mail is awaiting you on your account, please log in to check".

Super basic scam prevention awareness. Why do the police ignore this?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by marky123

I just recieved an unsolicited call from 'Emma' at 'New Zealand Police firearms.'
Click brrrrrrrrr

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Wonder if there has been another hacking of some sort , certainly wouldn't trust the govt to let us know.

even if it is the cops. Tell em to come speak to you face to face.

1. It sounds like a scam.
2. It sounds like the Police should be made aware of it so they can investigate.
3. It sounds like COLFO should be made aware of it so that they can pressure the Police to take the matter seriously.
4. It definitely sounds like David Seymour and The Act Party should be made aware so he / they can enquire as to whether this has arisen from the various leaks and breaches of private information of firearms license holders from government data bases.

I for one find this quite alarming as it potentially represents a potential threat to the security of firearms but far more critically a potential threat to family members in the recipient household.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rushy

1. It sounds like a scam.
2. It sounds like the Police should be made aware of it so they can investigate.
3. It sounds like COLFO should be made aware of it so that they can pressure the Police to take the matter seriously.
4. It definitely sounds like David Seymour and The Act Party should be made aware so he / they can enquire as to whether this has arisen from the various leaks and breaches of private information of firearms license holders from government data bases.

I for one find this quite alarming as it potentially represents a potential threat to the security of firearms but far more critically a potential threat to family members in the recipient household.

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The usual response from Rushy. Excellent!

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Originally Posted by 7mmwsm

Don't worry Dave, they will probably be around to see us all soon enough.

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I was looking for the concerned attempt at a smile button....

I have a large pile of beer in the kitchen (about 14 doz) All of which is going in the gun safe.
Should stir em up a bit.

something to look to

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Originally Posted by michaeldunt

something to look to

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Who's the spammer trying to get their post count up?

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Originally Posted by 40mm

even if it is the cops. Tell em to come speak to you face to face.

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Had Police ring me the other day

I said "The person you want to deal with no longer does business with the NZ Police by phone or email, you will need to send a letter, goodbye"

I didn't hang around long enough to hear whether or not it was against some made up policy, I want evidence.
I no longer harbour any goodwill towards our police and I cannot muster politeness either