Recent figures provided by banks show that $265 million was lost to bank scams in the last 12 months.
Payments NZ released its first Reported Fraud Monitor for New Zealand, which provides a comprehensive overview from 12 banks of gross reported fraud that has happened during the past 12 months.
The report shows a reported gross figure of $265 million was taken from Kiwi accounts by scammers. This includes both cases where people were tricked into sending money and those where personal details were stolen without the knowledge of the account holder.
It’s a powerful reminder of how important it is to protect your personal and banking information — and to stay alert for anything that feels off.
This Fraud Awareness Week, the Consumer Protection team is encouraging everyone in Aotearoa to pause and think before clicking, replying, or paying. Whether it’s a fake online store, a suspicious delivery text, or an offer that seems too good to be true, taking a moment could save you a lot.
A few simple steps can help you to stay one step ahead of scammers.
Stop, Check, Report
- Stop and think before clicking, sharing, or making any payments.
- Check the source to make sure it’s real.
- Report scams when you see them.
If you have been targeted by a scam:
- stop all contact with the scammer
- do not make any more payments
- contact the bank or service you sent money through.
Learn more about where to report incidents and be scam safe:
Find out more about protecting yourself from fraud and scams: