Online Scams & Fraud in New Zealand
The number of scams in New Zealand increased by 24%. Scams can be reported by New Zealanders to a number of organizations. Cybercrime can be reported to the New Zealand Police and the Financial Market Authority, which also keeps an investor warning list of individuals and companies.
What else do you need to know about the state of scams in New Zealand? Join us as we discuss everything there is to know about scams in New Zealand including where you can report the scams and the kind of victim support you can expect.
Scam Statistics in New Zealand
The key statistics on online fraud in New Zealand, according to the Global Anti Scam Alliance.
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |
| Population | 4.9 million | 4.9 million | 5.1 million | 5.1 million |
| Internet Penetration | 89% | 91% | 86% | 86% |
| # of Scams | 4,740 | 14,790 | 18,331 | |
| Scams / 1,000 | 1 | 4 | 3.58 | |
| Money Lost | € 12.7 million | € 21.7 million | € 18.08 million | |
| Money Lost / Capita | € 2.59 | € 4.26 | € 3.52 | |
| Money Lost / Report | € 6,205 | € 1,076 | € 984.4 |
The figures in the table will differ strongly per year as various sources have been used, pending on availability.
Where Can I Report a Scam in New Zealand?
- New Zealand Police-You can contact the New Zealand Police by phoning their non-emergency number at 105 or by contacting your local police station to report fraud.
- NetSafe-New Zealanders can get information and support from Netsafe, a non-profit organization that promotes online safety. By visiting https://www.netsafe.org.nz/report/, Netsafe's website, you can report online scams.
- Serious Fraud Office (SFO)- You can report serious investment scams here as they are the primary law enforcement body responsible for investigating and prosecuting major or complicated financial crimes.
- Department of Internal Affairs- Forward any fraudulent email and any other pertinent information to scam@reportspam.co.nz.
- CERT NZ- You can report to them identity and phishing scams as they take action against scammers and fraudsters.
How to Report a Scam in New Zealand
Reporting a scam is crucial. At the moment, only 7% of all scams are reported. As a result, only 0.05% of all cybercriminals are caught. Reporting online fraud is not only essential if you want to try and get your money back. It is also needed to help law enforcement fight scammers better.
- Gather info: Collect all information about the suspected fraud including the name, telephone, key web pages, emails, IP address, and any other information relevant. This is needed to file a complete report.
- Report the incident: Always report to your local law enforcement and note the file number they might provide for your fraud report for future reference.
- Stop the Money: Report the incident to the financial institution that transferred the money such as your bank, Paypal, credit card company, or the Internet payment service provider.
- Protect yourself: Scammers often contact you again. Sometimes with the same scam. Sometimes to help you “recover your money”. Consider changing your email address/phone number. Also, install the ScamAdviser browser extension to warn you of scams.
Our article “How and Where to Report a Scam” gives you more detail and tips on how you can best report online fraud.
Scam Victim Support in New Zealand
- IDCARE- By offering efficient reaction and mitigation, they aid individuals and organizations in Australia and New Zealand in minimizing the harm caused by the compromise and exploitation of their identification information. Reach out to them at 0800 121 068.
How to Check for a Scam in New Zealand
Of course, you can always check for scams on ScamAdviser.com. However, there are several other sources where you can check if a website is registered as a company and if it can offer financial, gambling, or other regulated services as well.
- Financial Markets Authority (FMA)- The FMA is a New Zealand government organization that oversees the financial markets and offers guidance and assistance to people. It's perfect to check for investment scams.
- NZ company House- Check out if the company is registered to operate in New Zealand. Though scammers can still find a way around it, it's always prudent to check the people behind a company.
- Commerce Commission- They ensure fair trading in NZ and you can always check out their website for checking business-related scams.
Anti-Scam Organizations & Consumer Authorities
- Citizens Advice Bureau: The Citizens Advice Bureau is a nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers that offers free guidance and information to customers on a variety of topics, including fraud and scams.
- Consumer Protection: They offer advice to consumers including the buyer's journey and what to do in case things go sideways.
Popular Scams in New Zealand
Text Message Phishing Scams
A phishing text message campaign is specifically targeting New Zealanders. The fraudsters impersonate several firms, including NZTA, Apple, Uber, postal services, and many more companies. The mail will claim that the receiver owes tolls, fees, or other modest amounts. They also include a link that resembles a URL shortener.
Since scammers frequently alter the language of these messages, be aware that they might differ from what was just described. If you get an unwanted text message with a link that says you owe money, just ignore it or report it to the URL to CERT NZ. Just getting the text message does not put you at risk; however, clicking the link raises your risk.
Scam News From New Zealand
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