Avoiding Scams
Scammers are becoming increasingly adept at using information to impersonate and/or defraud people. Phishing scams can seem like they are specifically targeted, but in reality the scam is being sent to hundreds, if not thousands of people at the same time. Only a few people need to fall for the scam to make it profitable. Understanding more about phishing scams can help safeguard you against potential identity theft and financial exploitation. If you think you have been the target of a phishing scam you can contact Netsafe for advice and guidance. The helpline is free, confidential and available 7 days a week.
If you think you have received a suspicious email it is important that you do not open it and do not reply to it.
Mark the email as junk mail. When an email is marked as junk mail, your email filter will learn to redirect emails from that scammer's email address away from your inbox.
Scan for malware. If you have clicked through any links or attachments that were included with a suspicious email, check for malware (malware is malicious software such as viruses) on the device you were using at the time. You can use a free online scanner to look for threats on your computers
Contact your bank immediately if you provided any sensitive personal information or security related information such as your mother’s maiden name, and/or former residential address or bank account details, you should contact your bank immediately.
Use this Identity Theft Checklistas a helpful guide on what could happen with the information you provided. If you believe you were exposed to identity theft, we recommend you contact iDCare as they provide free help and support for New Zealanders.
Forward the scam email to the legitimate organisation it is impersonating so they are aware.
How to spot a phishing scam
Some phishing emails look obvious, others are not. Email scams are becoming increasingly difficult to spot as scammers become more sophisticated.
Be cautious of emails that:
Have a deal or offer that is too good to be true.
Contain spelling and grammatical errors.
Contain a hyperlink to an odd-looking address, or an address not associated with the business it is meant to represent.
Urge you to act immediately or call you to action something with urgency.
Come from an email address that is not associated with the business it is meant to be representing.
Are from senders you do not recognise, or where their name does not appear correctly.
Come from companies you have had no interaction with.
Feature logos that don’t look right.
How does phishing work?
Scammers often source contact/personal details from various online platforms. This information can come from data breaches or be publicly accessible, such as through online business registrations or social media profiles.
Scammers gather information and send out a bulk email to many in the hope that a few will respond. These emails are crafted to mimic those from legitimate entities like banks, charities, or known businesses by using similar branding, logos, and language.
The emails may offer significantly discounted products or services or claim that the recipient has won a prize or has an inheritance to collect.
Alternatively, scammers may use fear-based tactics, such as sending emails that appear to be from genuine service providers warning about an urgent issue like service cancellation, overdue charges, or legal consequences.
Scamming may come via emails, SMS text messages or voice messages and often include requests for personal information under the guise of needing confirmation or verification. This request may come in the form of:
Attached documents.
Links to fake websites.
Contact details or instructions within the email.
Parcel delivery from a courier, similar to the DHL fraud email.
Bank payment authorisation, like a BNZ phishing or Westpac Fraud email.
Payment to a government organisation, like a toll payment or an overdue car registration
If you think you have been targeted by a phishing scam, inform your friends and family to help them avoid falling victim.
Consumer NZ have recently released a report on the increasing number scam victims who are being targeted in 'recovery scams'.
A recovery scam is when a scammer contacts a known victim and pretends to be someone trying to recover the lost funds.
Consumer urges scam victims to be ultra vigilant, especially in the days and weeks immediately after a scam has taken place. The following tips can help to safeguard against all scams.
Be suspicious of spontaneous contact.
Always resist urgency.
Find contact information independently.
Consider changing your contact details if you have been scammed in the past.
Protect your personal information including driving licence number, IRD number and other personal details.
Do not give remote access to your device.
You can contact Netsafe seven days a week for free, confidential and non-judgmental advice about an online issue impacting you or someone you know.