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Scams in New Zealand: what to watch for right now

A plain summary of the scams official agencies in New Zealand warn about most, with the latest published figures and the fastest way to get help.

By the TapSafely editorial teamUpdated

The numbers

New Zealanders reported NZ$26.9 million in direct financial losses to the NCSC in 2024/25, up from NZ$21.6 million the year before, across 5,995 reports.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) New Zealand

Direct financial losses reported to the NCSC reached NZ$12.4 million in the July to September 2025 quarter, up 118% on the previous quarter.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) New Zealand

Inland Revenue received over 3,000 scam reports in the three months to February 2026.

Inland Revenue

Scams to watch for in New Zealand

Common in New Zealand

Investment scams

Inland Revenue says investment scams on social media and websites are a major reason New Zealanders lost $265 million to fraud in 2025.

How to spot it
Common in New Zealand

Online shopping scams

Netsafe says shopping scams were the most common scam reported in November 2025, with 266 reports.

How to spot it
Common in New Zealand

Job and business opportunity scams

The NCSC says employment and business opportunity scams rose 50% in the July to September 2025 quarter.

How to spot it
Common in New Zealand

Phishing and fake login pages

Phishing and credential harvesting was the second most reported incident type to the NCSC in 2024/25, with 1,994 reports.

How to spot it
Common in New Zealand

Fake toll and rego texts

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi warns of scam texts asking you to pay overdue tolls or renew your rego, and says real NZTA texts only come from 3651.

How to spot it

Who scammers pretend to be

Inland RevenueNZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiNZ PoliceBanksWell-known New Zealanders in fake ads

Never trust a call, text or email just because it uses one of these names. Contact the organisation using details you find yourself.

If you've been scammed in New Zealand

  1. Contact your bank immediately, because the sooner your bank knows the better the chance of getting your money back.
  2. Report money lost to a scam to NZ Police online or by calling 105.
  3. Report the scam to the National Cyber Security Centre at ncsc.govt.nz/report.
  4. For advice and support, contact Netsafe on 0508 638 723, and report investment scams to the Financial Markets Authority.

Where to report a scam in New Zealand

Reviewed 2026-09-16. Services change, so check the official site if a link doesn't work.

Scam Weather for New Zealand

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Questions

What are the most common scams in New Zealand?

According to official sources: Investment scams, Online shopping scams, Job and business opportunity scams, Phishing and fake login pages, Fake toll and rego texts.

What should I do first if I've been scammed in New Zealand?

Contact your bank immediately, because the sooner your bank knows the better the chance of getting your money back. Report money lost to a scam to NZ Police online or by calling 105.

Who do scammers pretend to be in New Zealand?

Official warnings mention Inland Revenue, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, NZ Police, Banks, Well-known New Zealanders in fake ads.

Official sources and further reading

Figures and warnings on this page come from these official sources.