Company cold calling for DHB a scam, public warned

Nick Chamberlain says the NDHB has no contract with the group.PHOTO/FILE

Northland police and district health board are hitting out at a health and lifestyle company, saying its cold calling of a Kaipara man is a scam, but the business says it's a legitimate company.

A press release sent out by Northland police warned the public to be aware of phone scammers claiming to be calling on behalf of or being contracted by Northland District Health Board (NDHB).

But the company, Vivid Lifestyle, says the man who complained to the health board had misunderstood its cold caller.

Kaipara Community Health Trust chief executive Debbie Evans said she met with a Kaipara man in his 70s on Wednesday as he was concerned about the call which he found a "bit dodgy".

She then referred the issue to the NDHB and police.

"The complainant is concerned that someone was ripping off the town," Ms Evans said.

The man said he was asked by the caller to attend an arthritis clinic in Dargaville yesterday, even after the man said he did not have the disease.

Ms Evans said she had checked and as far as she was aware no such clinic existed. The man was then urged by the caller to buy some "green life medication".

When asked how they got his full name, date of birth and phone number, he said he was allegedly told by the caller he was contracted by Northland District Health Board.

When the Northern Advocate rang the company yesterday, a man named Alan said he had investigated the situation and said it was a misunderstanding.

Alan said the Auckland-based employee of the company who spoke to the resident never said he was contracted to the NDHB. Alan was unable to comment further by edition time.

When the Northern Advocate rang the company earlier yesterday the voicemail on the Auckland number was for a UK based cellphone company.

There was a website for Vivid Lifestyle, a UK-based health and lifestyle company, which said it operated in New Zealand. The Northern Advocate was unable to find a record of the company in the Companies Office online registry.

NDHB chief executive Nick Chamberlain assured the community the health board had not contracted this group nor shared any patient details with them.

"Northland DHB, including any company acting for or contracted by them, will not request credit card details or offer products at discounted rates," Dr Chamberlain said. "If in doubt, hang up and contact your health provider."

Police senior sergeant John Fagan said a lot of people had shared the message on Facebook.

"The obvious concerning nature of this is that the person or persons responsible are relying on people trusting the good name of the Northland DHB - which is a risk to their reputation."