Scammers are using the Rena disaster to try to trick people into donating money to bogus funds.
The scammers are asking people by phone, internet and through merchandise sales to contribute to a bogus oiled wildlife fund for Rena, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) warns.
Similar activity was reported shortly after the container ship grounded on the Astrolable Reef off Tauranga in October.
There were no official fundraising activities for the oiled wildlife response team, MNZ said today.
Police had been notified of the scammers.
"The public are reminded to be cautious and never disclose personal, bank details or credit card information over the phone, online or in an email," MNZ said.
The only official fund was the Bay of Plenty Care for our Coast Fund run by Bay of Plenty Regional Council, MNZ said.
Meanwhile, a crane barge has been anchored near Rena, which broke in two a week ago, spilling hundreds of containers and oil into the ocean.
It is not known when it will resume retrieving containers from the front part of the ship remaining on the reef.
The sea was expected to calm from Tuesday, MNZ said.
A dive team remains on standby to survey the stern of the ship, which has sunk.
The NZ Defence Force is checking for debris and containers in the path of ships heading for the Port of Tauranga with aerial sweeps twice a day.
The recovery of containers and debris continues on Sunday with teams at Bowentown Heads, Matakana Island and White Island.
A light sheen of oil continues to leak from the wreckage and teams are checking beaches for oil washing up.
Another oiled little blue penguin was found on Saturday night at Motiti Island and wildlife teams continue to search shorelines.
NZN