Woman Jailed Over $166k McDonalds Embezzlement
July 1, 2015 | Fraud
For years Christine Tiongson worked her way up the chain at McDonalds, gaining the trust of her bosses.
Once she became a manager at the Bombay restaurant she was given the authority to refund customers using a swipe card and over four years she used that position to embezzle $166,000.
An offer to pay back $2000 and surprisingly-supportive statements from her former and current bosses were not enough to save her from being jailed when she was sentenced at Pukekohe District Court this afternoon.
Judge Rob Ronayne jailed Tiongson for …
Broker Denies Fraud, Faces Jury Trial
June 18, 2015 | Fraud
David McGuffie is facing four charges of dishonestly.
A Napier insurance broker has denied making dishonest claims to four large insurance companies.
David McGuffie is facing four charges of dishonestly using a document, namely insurance application forms, without claim of right between February 2011 and July 2013.
McGuffie, 50, entered a not guilty plea to all charges in Napier District Court yesterday. He elected for a trial by jury and was remanded on bail until August 28.
The dishonest claims he allegedly made, were to Pinnacle …
Fraudster Unmasked: Serial Conman's Identity Revealed
June 6, 2015 | Fraud
After two years, the identity of a serial conman and thief, who preys on elderly women living in rest homes can be revealed.
For the past two years Fred Charles Snell has been before the courts on charges of stealing from sisters in their 90s. Photo / Nick Reed
This is Fred Charles Snell - one of Auckland's most prolific, scurrilous and predatory fraudsters. He targets elderly women living in rest homes, steals from them, manipulates them.
He's been doing this over and over again for decades.
For the past two years he has been befo…
Home Jail For Taking Fashion Firms' $370,000
June 6, 2015 | Fraud
The former accountant for two New Zealand fashion companies has been sentenced to 12 months of home detention for siphoning off more than $370,000 of the companies' money.
The woman, who has permanent name suppression, procured $377,164 by repeatedly falsifying details in the companies' accounting systems during her five-year employment.
In the Auckland District Court yesterday, the woman was sentenced to 12 months' home detention subject to approval of her address.
The court heard how the woman was in charge of the banking and asse…
Murdered Boy's Stepfather Charged With Benefit Fraud
June 4, 2015 | Fraud
The stepfather of alleged murder victim, five-year-old Leon Michael leFleming Jayet-Cole, is facing a benefit fraud charge.
The charge against James Stedman Roberts, 34, of wilfully omitting to inform social welfare authorities about details relating to a benefit, was called in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday afternoon.
Roberts was remanded in custody on Wednesday when he faced a charge of murdering the autistic Papanui boy last week.
Leon Jayet-Cole, 5, was taken to Christchurch Hospital last Wednesday about 1.30pm with…
Office Manager Gillian Budge Jailed For $200,000 Fraud
June 4, 2015 | Fraud
A Canterbury business owner is warning others to protect themselves from fraud after his office manager was jailed for stealing nearly $200,000 from the company over five years.
Gillian Budge was sentenced by Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday to two years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to a representative charge of theft by a person in a special relationship.
Budge admitted stealing $196,742.22 from Christchurch-based Southern Engineering Solutions while working as the company's office…
Office Manager Gillian Budge Jailed for $200,000 Fraud
May 27, 2015 | Fraud
A Canterbury business owner is warning others to protect themselves from fraud after his office manager was jailed for stealing nearly $200,000 from the company over five years.
Gillian Budge was sentenced by Judge Jane Farish in the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday to two years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to a representative charge of theft by a person in a special relationship.
Budge admitted stealing $196,742.22 from Christchurch-based Southern Engineering Solutions while working as the company's office…
New Phone Scam Targets Power Customers
May 20, 2015 | Fraud
A new phone scam in which crooks impersonate energy company staff is doing the rounds, police warn.
The scam involved callers demanding payment to Nova Energy, with the scammer threatening to cut off power unless victims made payment.
Police said anybody who received such a call could verify its authenticity by calling Nova on 0800 668 236.
"You should not make any payment until you have verified the call and are satisfied it is genuinely from Nova," police said today.
Police were investigating the scam and said anyone with informat…
Disputes scheme fields hundreds of online trading complaints
May 20, 2015 | Fraud
Stuff reports:
"Kiwis are being warned not to get sucked into foreign exchange and other trading scams which have stripped unwary investors of over US$100 million ($136 million).
Financial Dispute Resolution Scheme director Stuart Ayres said since the scheme's inception in 2010, it had received hundreds of online trading complaints.
Complaints to date had involved in excess of US$100m, and most investors had been unable to recover their money, he said.
Some providers or brokers had simply stolen the money, some appeared to operate…
Outrageous Bail-Out: TV Star Kirk Torrance Pays $10K To Keep Daughter Out Of Jail
May 20, 2015 | Fraud
An Outrageous Fortune star has had to bail his daughter out after she ripped off a marketing company for nearly $25,000.
Kirk Torrance, who played Detective Sergeant Wayne Judd in the hit West Auckland drama, stumped up a cheque for $10,000 on behalf of his 28-year-old daughter Alix Ashby, which was presented to the bosses of her former employer Brand Spanking at Auckland District Court this morning.
The court heard how commercial property owned by a family trust was being sold to cover the balance of the reparation.
Kirk Torrance a…