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A woman has been charged with fraud in relation to an immigration scam where Tongan people were promised residency in exchange for cash.
Fraudsters allegedly targeted Tongans by posing as doorstep missionaries before asking them to buy fake residence visas for $290.
Police inquiries identified one person acting through a number of unwitting intermediaries, a spokeswoman said today, and as a result Kolini Tatafu has been charged with fraud related offending.
A number of other people have been interviewed over the scam but police said there was so far insufficient evidence to charge them.
Immigration NZ are assisting police to ensure witnesses with credible complaints are able to remain in New Zealand until court proceedings are complete.
Once they are concluded immigration officials will review the status of those people on a case by case basis.
Police are holding a number of unclaimed Tongan passports which they want to return to their rightful owners.
They can be picked up from the Otahuhu Police Station from 10am-2pm Monday
to Friday.
Any passports remaining unclaimed at the end of October will be returned to the Tongan Government.
- © Fairfax NZ News
