Many New Zealanders are caught in scams each year.
Scams usually target money but they can also affect a person’s relationships, self-confidence, online security and privacy.
Find out about steps you can take to protect your money and personal information.
Being more aware of scams is worthwhile. Many New Zealanders are caught in scams each year, resulting in significant financial losses.
There is no real way to tell for certain if an opportunity is legitimate. The things we consider as signs a company or person is trustworthy are the same things scammers imitate.
Learning how to recognise scammers’ tactics is the best way to avoid being scammed.
Getting started with cyber security(external link) — CERT NZ guide
It is best to be suspicious of any contact you weren’t expecting. Taking time to consider an offer could be the difference between being caught in a scam and avoiding it.
Use these tips to help you decide whether to trust an opportunity.
See our online shopping advice for more:
Ignore text messages claiming you have won something. Unless you have recently entered a competition, this kind of message is a scam.
Ignore mail claiming you have won something or are owed money. Unless you have recently entered a competition, this kind of mail is a scam.
It's true that unexpected contact is the most common delivery method for scams, but you can also be targeted by a scammer who knows something about you. Someone running a scam may have found out more about you online than you are aware, picking up on what’s happening in your life, which bank you use, what you’re looking for online.
We are most vulnerable to scams that make sense in the context of our lives.
For example:
It can feel like a negative approach but it’s important to be suspicious to keep yourself safe when a scam is more difficult to spot.
If you think it's a scam, it’s probably a scam.