"Just hang up" is the advice from Whanganui police to people targeted by phone scammers.
Sergeant Aaron Bunker said police were aware of a recent increase in the number of calls from international scammers to cellphones and landlines. The scammers are persistent and often ring multiple times.
"If you get a call from someone trying to elicit rewards or offering money, just hang up straight away," Mr Bunker said.
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"I'd encourage families to speak to their elderly relatives about this to ensure they are not being targeted and so they are not caught out by a scammer."