Scams targeting New Zealanders are becoming more and more sophisticated.
Learn about the latest scam trends to help keep your personal information and money safe.
Increased AI scam and fraud
Artificial intelligence is making scams more sophisticated and harder to detect. A recent report by Incode warns that autonomous AI agents are driving a sharp rise in fraud and could account for up to 90% of all fraud by 2028.
Scammers are using AI to create convincing phishing emails, clone voices, impersonate trusted organisations. These scams can be largely automated, allowing scammers to reach large numbers of people with minimal effort.
Impersonation scams
Scammers continue to exploit people's trust by impersonating well-known organisations and government agencies.
Lately, New Zealander's have been getting caught out on well trusted brands pop-up messages while visiting unrelated websites. These pop-ups claim that their device has been compromised and instruct them to call a support phone number. Scammers then convince people to install remote access software under the control their device.
The New Zealand Police Association is warning members about scammers who appear to be calling from the Association’s legitimate call centre number. The scammers falsely claim that members have pending criminal charges and pressuring them to act immediately.
If you receive any calls like this, take a cautious approach and if you're concerned about a call, hang up and contact the organisation directly using the official phone number listed on their website.
Keep yourself protected
Here are a few habits that can reduce the risk of being scammed:
- Slow down before acting on urgent requests
- Never share passwords or one-time verification codes
- Be cautious downloading apps from social media ads
- Double-check website addresses before logging in
- Contact organisations directly using official contact details if you're unsure about any communication you've received from them
Scammers rely on people reacting quickly. Taking a moment to stop and verify can make all the difference.
If you think you've been targeted by a scam and your PCU banking details may have been compromised, please contact us as soon as possible by calling us on 0800 429 000.