A 28-year-old man and 38-year-old woman have been charged with defrauding more than $1 million over the past two years for cancer treatment that police say was never needed.
Police said a search warrant was executed today at an address in Wānaka after an investigation into the pair.
Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Dye said they had recently moved from the West Coast to Wānaka where “they had been living the high life with rented properties and high end European cars”.
“Their lavish lifestyle has been funded with money allegedly defrauded from family, friends and associates, for cancer treatment that inquiries show was never required and never obtained,” he said.
Dye said the investigation had been running for “only two weeks” and the Tasman organised crime unit team “acted as promptly as possible” to prevent further offending.
“Inquiries to date including an ongoing financial analysis of bank accounts used by the couple which indicates there are other victims who have not yet spoken with police. We’re identifying who they are and will be investigating their complaints.”
Dye said existing matters against the couple had been filed at court in April 2024 and related to offending against two other victims, which totalled $79,000.
“They will appear in Queenstown District Court where bail is opposed.”
He asked anyone who thought they had given money to a couple that matched with some of the “deceptive reasons mentioned”, or had information that could assist the inquiry, to contact the Tasman organised crime unit. Dye said such information would be “actively investigated”.
“If you have handed over your bank details, contact your bank and immediately suspend your account.”
People who believed they were victims of fraud could contact police via the website or by phoning 105.
