Consumer affairs NZ website
Excellent information and recourse's: http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz
About Scamwatch
Additionally, based on overseas research conducted in the UK and Australia, we would estimate that the average loss to a scam is around $2,300.
Scammers create great set-ups, with bait designed to hook you. If you take the hook, they will sting you!
Find out how to protect yourself.
Find out about types of scams and how they work.
The Alert section keeps you informed of scams that are out there circulating in the New Zealand community, so you can be aware and prepared for them.
See our latest scam alerts.
This section provides alerts based on information reported to Scamwatch by those who have been confronted with scams - and who want to help protect others. It also contains information about scams from the media.
If you want to protect others by reporting a scam attempt that is not already on our Alert section, your report will automatically be sent to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
The Ministry may use your information, taking out any personal identity details, to create an alert on Scamwatch to keep others aware and prepared.
Scamwatch also provides advice for those who have fallen for the bait and been hooked.
Information on what Scamwatch does. Background information on the annual Fraud Awareness campaign run by the Ministry.
The types of scams that Scamwatch covers.
Constantly changing
Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to scam. It's their day job. It could be taking money for goods that don’t exist. Or tricking you into giving them access to your PC. There are countless ways scammers may try to draw you in.
Tell tale signs
The good news is you’re less likely to fall for a scam if you can spot some of the usual signs. Most scams follow basic patterns. This section lists the hallmarks of different types of scams.
Do your homework!!
You have less chance of being scammed if you do some research before handing over your cash. Do an online search of the company or person’s name with the word ‘scam’ after it. It may bring up stories of other people who have experienced the same scam.
Charity scams
What charity scams look like and how they work.
The set-up
A charity approaches you to make a donation.
The hook
You respond generously, without checking the charity's or collector's credentials.
The sting
There was no charity, your money is gone, and the real people in need get nothing.
How charity scams work
You’re asked to be generous, and you respond. But the charity turns out to be fake, or a scammer pretending to be a real charity. You go from feeling good for helping to feeling like a fool.
Natural disasters are often the trigger for fake charity scams. Scammers asked for money after the earthquakes in Haiti and Christchurch. But any kind of charity can become the subject of a scam.
Report a scam
Consumer Affairs has teamed up with it's trusted partner Netsafe to allow you to make your report through the ORB.
We will treat your information with the utmost sensitivity. Click the link below to begin your scam report via the ORB.
Report a scam now.
Note: We may use this information to warn others. It will also help Consumer Affairs to build up an overall picture of scams in New Zealand. You must be a New Zealand resident to report a scam. Consumer Affairs is not an enforcement agency and may not be able to respond to you directly regarding this scam.
Other agencies that deal with scams
Visit the Commerce Commission website.
The Department of Internal Affairs deals with indentity issues and spam.
Visit the Department of Internal Affairs website.
Netsafe gives advice on keeping safe online.
Visit the Netsafe website.
Consumer NZ have information about scams on their website.
Visit Consumer NZ's website.
The Securities Commission can investigate investment scams.
Visit the Securities Commission website.
The NZ Police can investigate fraud that happens in New Zealand.
Visit the NZ Police website.
The Serious Fraud Office can investigate serious and complex fraud.
NZ Serious Fraud Office website. The SFO office deals with:
Fraud is defined as dishonest activity causing actual or potential financial loss to any person or entity, including theft of money or other property, by employees or persons external to the entity; and where deception is used at the time, immediately before or immediately following the activity.
Our focus is serious or complex fraud, which we determine using an indicative criteria:
Complex or serious fraud is distinct from other dishonesty offences that will ordinarily be a Police matter to investigate. As a small, specialised organisation, we focus on cases that are small in number, but large in terms of the scale of the alleged fraud and/or impact they have on public confidence in the administration of the law, or, the integrity of the business sector.
Crimestoppers
http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/
State and Territory Governments:
Australian Capital Territory – Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Victoria; New South Wales – Office of Fair Trading; Northern Territory – Department of Justice; Queensland – Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development; South Australia – Office of Consumer &; Business Affairs; Tasmania – Office of Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading; Western Australia – Department of Consumer & Employment Protection.
Excellent information and recourse's: http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz
About Scamwatch
The aim of Scamwatch is to provide you with information you need to protect yourself from scams, so you can recognise a setup and avoid the hook and the inevitable sting of a scam.
The aim of Scamwatch
The aim of Scamwatch is to provide you with information you need to protect yourself from scams, so you can recognise a set-up and avoid the hook and the inevitable sting of a scam.
Almost everyone has been the target of a scam at some stage in their lives, and many people have repeated, ongoing exposure to scam attempts.
What the research says
Ministry of Consumer Affairs research carried out in 2009 found that
What the research says
Ministry of Consumer Affairs research carried out in 2009 found that
- 15% of New Zealand adults have been scammed or tricked out of money
- The likelihood of being scammed or tricked out of money does not differ substantially by education, income or age.
- Most scams (60%) involved sums less than $1000, and 79% involved a sum less than $5000
Additionally, based on overseas research conducted in the UK and Australia, we would estimate that the average loss to a scam is around $2,300.
Protect yourself
Scammers create great set-ups, with bait designed to hook you. If you take the hook, they will sting you!
Find out how to protect yourself.
Find out about types of scams and how they work.
The Alert section keeps you informed of scams that are out there circulating in the New Zealand community, so you can be aware and prepared for them.
See our latest scam alerts.
This section provides alerts based on information reported to Scamwatch by those who have been confronted with scams - and who want to help protect others. It also contains information about scams from the media.
Report a scam
If you want to protect others by reporting a scam attempt that is not already on our Alert section, your report will automatically be sent to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
The Ministry may use your information, taking out any personal identity details, to create an alert on Scamwatch to keep others aware and prepared.
Report a scam to Scamwatch.
Scamwatch also provides advice for those who have fallen for the bait and been hooked.
Information on what Scamwatch does. Background information on the annual Fraud Awareness campaign run by the Ministry.
Link: Types of scams
The types of scams that Scamwatch covers.
Constantly changing
Scammers are constantly coming up with new ways to scam. It's their day job. It could be taking money for goods that don’t exist. Or tricking you into giving them access to your PC. There are countless ways scammers may try to draw you in.
Tell tale signs
The good news is you’re less likely to fall for a scam if you can spot some of the usual signs. Most scams follow basic patterns. This section lists the hallmarks of different types of scams.
Do your homework!!
You have less chance of being scammed if you do some research before handing over your cash. Do an online search of the company or person’s name with the word ‘scam’ after it. It may bring up stories of other people who have experienced the same scam.
Charity scams
What charity scams look like and how they work.
The set-up
A charity approaches you to make a donation.
The hook
You respond generously, without checking the charity's or collector's credentials.
The sting
There was no charity, your money is gone, and the real people in need get nothing.
How charity scams work
You’re asked to be generous, and you respond. But the charity turns out to be fake, or a scammer pretending to be a real charity. You go from feeling good for helping to feeling like a fool.
Natural disasters are often the trigger for fake charity scams. Scammers asked for money after the earthquakes in Haiti and Christchurch. But any kind of charity can become the subject of a scam.
Scammers know that they can play on your emotions. They may present you with images and stories about sick children or homeless animals.
Some scammers set up lotteries and sell tickets. They say the proceeds will be going to charity when only a tiny fraction of the money raised goes to the charity.
Protect yourself from charity scams
- If a charity asks you for money, do some research before saying 'yes' to their appeal. If it’s a well-known charity, email or phone them to check they’re really doing an appeal. If it’s a charity you haven’t heard of, contact the Charities Commission to make sure they’re genuine. You could also put their name into an internet search engine, followed by ‘scam’ to see if there are any reports of it being a scam.
- If you’re approached face-to-face by someone representing a charity, look for official identification. Even if they have ID, check for signs that the ID may be faked.
- Don’t be pressured or intimidated, or made to feel guilty. Genuine charities would regard such tactics as bad for their reputations.
- Ask for full details of the charity, such as name, address, phone number and charity registration details. If the collector is reluctant to give out this information, find another way to contribute.
Help protect others from charity scams
If you've been affected by a charity scam, please help us to warn others by reporting your story to Scamwatch. Your personal details will be treated in the strictest confidence.Report a scam
We may use this information to warn others by keeping the Alerts section of this site up to date, and it will be added to the data which is collected on scams by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
Consumer Affairs has teamed up with it's trusted partner Netsafe to allow you to make your report through the ORB.
We will treat your information with the utmost sensitivity. Click the link below to begin your scam report via the ORB.
Report a scam now.
Note: We may use this information to warn others. It will also help Consumer Affairs to build up an overall picture of scams in New Zealand. You must be a New Zealand resident to report a scam. Consumer Affairs is not an enforcement agency and may not be able to respond to you directly regarding this scam.
Other agencies that deal with scams
Links to other agencies who give advice on scams or can investigate scams.
New Zealand-based agencies
The Commerce Commission can investigate scams that breach the Fair Trading Act, such as pyramid schemes.Visit the Commerce Commission website.
The Department of Internal Affairs deals with indentity issues and spam.
Visit the Department of Internal Affairs website.
Netsafe gives advice on keeping safe online.
Visit the Netsafe website.
Consumer NZ have information about scams on their website.
Visit Consumer NZ's website.
The Securities Commission can investigate investment scams.
Visit the Securities Commission website.
The NZ Police can investigate fraud that happens in New Zealand.
Visit the NZ Police website.
The Serious Fraud Office can investigate serious and complex fraud.
NZ Serious Fraud Office website. The SFO office deals with:
Fraud is defined as dishonest activity causing actual or potential financial loss to any person or entity, including theft of money or other property, by employees or persons external to the entity; and where deception is used at the time, immediately before or immediately following the activity.
Our focus is serious or complex fraud, which we determine using an indicative criteria:
- There are multiple victims (usually investors) of the suspected fraud
- The sum of money lost exceeds $2,000,000
- The alleged criminal transactions have significant legal or financial complexity beyond the resources of most other law enforcement agencies.
Complex or serious fraud is distinct from other dishonesty offences that will ordinarily be a Police matter to investigate. As a small, specialised organisation, we focus on cases that are small in number, but large in terms of the scale of the alleged fraud and/or impact they have on public confidence in the administration of the law, or, the integrity of the business sector.
Crimestoppers
http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/
Fraud Awareness Campaigns
The annual campaign run by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs to highlight mass-marketed scams.
About the Fraud Awareness Campaigns
As part of a trans-Tasman approach to combat consumer fraud and scams targeted at consumers, the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce was established in March 2005 and comprised 18 government regulatory agencies and departments in Australia and New Zealand.
Agencies participating in the Taskforce
New Zealand Government: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Commerce Commission.
Australian Government:
Attorney General’s Department; Australian Bureau of Statistics; Australian Communications and Media Authority; Australian Competition & Consumer Commission; Australian Federal Police (represented by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre; Australian Institute of Criminology; Australian Securities & Investment Commission; Department of Communications, Information Technology & the Arts
State and Territory Governments:
Australian Capital Territory – Office of Fair Trading; Consumer Affairs Victoria; New South Wales – Office of Fair Trading; Northern Territory – Department of Justice; Queensland – Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development; South Australia – Office of Consumer &; Business Affairs; Tasmania – Office of Consumer Affairs & Fair Trading; Western Australia – Department of Consumer & Employment Protection.
Objective
The main objective for Fraud Awareness campaigns are to raise awareness and provide information to New Zealanders on:
- how to spot scams
- how to avoid being scammed, and
- how to report a scam (via this Scamwatch website)
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