Couple charged with insurance scam

A Japanese couple have been accused of a holiday insurance scam in Queenstown.

A 23-year-old woman and 22-year-old man have been charged with laying a false complaint, after telling police on Thursday their bag had been stolen.

Sergeant Kate Pirovano, of Queenstown, said the couple approached police claiming their bag, camera and laptop had been stolen when they were in a public toilet.

It did not help that the couple still had the camera at police station, she said.

False complaints are common during winter as overseas tourists try to claim insurance to cover their trip.

About a month ago, an Australian couple said their bag was stolen by a knife-wielding robber on the shores of Lake Hayes but were later charged with making a false complaint.

Ms Pirovano said while many false complainants were caught more probably slipped through the cracks.

"A lot of it comes down to whether we've got the resources to follow it up at the time."

The couple are scheduled to appear in Queenstown District Court on September 21.

- © Fairfax NZ News