Christchurch Police have this morning arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to a telephone scam that has been targeting elderly people across New Zealand.

The man was due to appear in Christchurch District Court this afternoon on five charges of causing loss by deception, as well as perverting the course of justice and breach of bail.

The charges follow a police investigation into the scam, where offenders contacted elderly people over the phone, claimed to be from power companies and banks and threatened to disconnect their power if payment was not made immediately.