Recent scam affecting New Zealanders

Scammers are constantly adapting their tactics, often using social media, messaging apps, and online platforms to target unsuspecting victims.

Here are three common scam types that have recently been affecting New Zealanders, along with some key warning signs to watch for.

👨‍💻 Scam Facebook pages

Scammers pose as tech support agents from organisations like Spark or Microsoft with the goal of getting their hands on your money.

Scammers often create fake social media pages that mimic legitimate businesses, organisations, or community groups. These pages may advertise products, services, giveaways, or special offers to gain trust and encourage people to share personal information or make payments.

What to look out for:

• Recently created pages with limited history
• Few followers or minimal engagement
• Poor spelling or grammar
• Requests to continue conversations via private messages
• Offers that seem too good to be true

Before engaging, take a moment to verify the page and visit the organisation's official website.

📈 Digital Wallets phishing scams

Digital wallet scams typically begin with an unexpected phone call, text message, or email claiming there's an issue with your account or a suspicious transaction. Scammers then attempt to convince victims to add a payment card to a digital wallet they control or share security codes.

Once access is granted, the scammer may be able to make purchases using the compromised card.

What to look out for:

• Unexpected contact claiming to be from a bank or trusted organisation
• Requests for one-time passcodes or security codes
• Pressure to act quickly
• Instructions to add a card to a digital wallet
• Requests to share personal or banking information

Remember, legitimate organisations will never ask you to share security codes or try to access your accounts.

🖥️ Fake job advertisements

Scammers are seen to be using social media more and more to advertise fake job opportunities, particularly for administration, customer service, cleaning, driving, and work-from-home roles. After expressing interest, applicants may be contacted by a fake recruiter and asked to provide personal information or download software as part of the application process.

In some cases, the software can contain malware designed to compromise devices or steal information.

What to look out for:

• Job offers with little or no interview process
• Requests to download software before speaking with an employer
• Communication only through messaging apps
• Unrealistically high pay or flexible conditions
• Requests for identification documents or banking details early in the process

Always research the employer independently before sharing personal information or downloading unfamiliar applications.