Police investigate an online scam using a former police officer’s ID

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA -19 APRIL 2022: The Samoan police are now investigating a complaint filed by a former New Zealand police officer for the use of her ID in an alleged online scam.

A former New Zealand police officer, Helen Metuli Sagaga lodged the complaint last Thursday against a Samoan female citizen for allegedly “pretending to be her and obtaining money” on an alleged online scam.

Helen said, for over 2 years, the accused has used her private photo on social media to obtain money from people from different parts of the world.

“I am writing if you could please check with your police records if she has been done for fraud, because I am positive she has been into trouble with the Samoan Police before,” she requested the Samoan police.

Helen also provided photos and other evidence to back her claim.

The Acting Police Commissioner, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed the complaint had been referred to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and an officer assigned to the case.

The photo of Helen Metuli Sagaga claimed to have been used to sell fine mats online.

The alleged scam
It seemed the scam had been going on for some time without Helens knowledge that her photo was used on the social media as the seller of Samoan fine mats.  People were sending money to the accused for the fine mats but never received any, so began the cursing and accusations against Helen on social media.

Helen said she only found out in late 2020 when her older sister raised it at one of their family meetings where her sister showed her photo and the accompanying online posts and they were shocked.

Seeking Help
Residing in Auckland, Helen worked as a police officer for 10 years and was based at the Police Headquarter in Otahuhu.

She said it took her sometime to try and figure things out because it really affected her, her family and especially her elderly father.

She asked so many people for help and advice and filed a complaint with the New Zealand police in September 2021.

However, the officer in charge of the investigation informed her that her case was not classified as “identity theft” and it really upset her.

The investigation was closed but the damage to her online continued.

Four different Facebook pages
Helen found out in her own investigation that there were four different Facebook pages that used her photo to sell fine mats and the woman behind the sales was wanted on another face-book forum for the same scam.

One of the pages had Helen’s photo selling a fine mat for $12,000 and this was separate from three other pages that also used her photo.

Before these pages were deactivated, Helen took screen-shots and saved all the posts with her photo as evidence in her legal complaint.

Helen said her life has not been the same since she found out about the scam and has been an absolute nightmare for her.

“I do not know this woman and I’ve never met her but she has ruined my reputation,” she said.

She said this woman has used her name and photo to sell fine mats to people and specifically asked for deposits to be sent over first, and money has been sent to other people on her behalf.

“I wanted to put an end to what she’s doing and she has no idea how much damage this has caused me,” said Helen.