Security and Scams

Invoice scams often involve scammers accessing a business’s or individuals email account to alter payment details on invoices, which are then sent to clients. The payments are diverted to the scammers’ accounts instead of the person or business they intended to pay. 

Another variant involves scammers impersonating a senior employee and instructing a colleague to transfer funds to an account set up by the scammer, typically via domestic or international wire transfer.

It’s crucial to stay vigilant, especially if you receive unusual emails or notice changes in payment instructions.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, please visit: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/know-the-risks/common-risks-and-threats/invoice-scams/

Tech support scams often involve scammers posing as representatives from reputable tech companies, telecommunications firms, or internet service providers. They typically contact victims through phone calls, emails, or pop-up messages, claiming that there is an urgent issue with their computer or device. The scammers then persuade the victims to install software that grants them remote access to the victims’ devices. Once they have access, they can steal personal information, install malware, or demand payment for unnecessary services. Often, scammers will convince the victim to log in to their internet banking and will move funds out of the victim accounts.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit:https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/know-the-risks/common-risks-and-threats/scam-calls/

Investment scams often involve scammers reaching out to victims via phone, SMS, email, social media, or fraudulent websites with fake investment opportunities. These scams can promise high returns with little to no risk, often using sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate.

Be cautious of investment offers that seem too good to be true. Scammers may pressure you to act quickly or provide personal information. Always verify the legitimacy of the investment and the person offering it. For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/get-protected/guides/protect-against-investment-scams/

Online shopping scams involve scammers creating fake websites or social media pages to offer non-existent or counterfeit goods. These items are often advertised at reduced prices to lure victims.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit: https://netsafe.org.nz/online-safety-at-home/shopping-online-safely

Romance scams often involve scammers contacting unsuspecting victims through dating websites, email, SMS, Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger apps, or other social media platforms.

Once contact is made, sca mmers use various techniques to gain the victim’s trust over time before eventually asking for money. This often involves a sudden emergency where they need funds because they are stuck somewhere or need help paying a bill. Common stories used by scammers include:

• Being in the military overseas and needing money for living expenses, release, or projects.
• Being involved in an antiques, gold, art, or gemstones business overseas and needing money to get the goods out of the country.
• Needing money for airfares to visit the victim.
• Finalizing a late relative’s estate overseas and requiring funds for funeral expenses or other costs.
• Being stuck overseas and urgently needing money.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/know-the-risks/common-risks-and-threats/romance-or-dating-scams/

Prize and lottery scams typically involve scammers sending emails, SMS messages, social media messages, or letters to victims, claiming they have won a lottery, sweepstake, prize, or award that they never entered or knew about.

Victims are usually told they must make an up-front payment for various reasons, such as taxes, stamp duty, insurance costs, courier charges, or bank fees, to collect their winnings.

Be cautious of messages about competitions or lotteries you have not entered. Legitimate prize winners are not usually required to pay fees or taxes to receive their prize. Conducting your own internet research can often reveal common lottery and prize-related scams.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit: https://netsafe.org.nz/scams/fake-competitions-prizes

Email and text message scams, known as ‘phishing,’ typically involve scammers attempting to steal your personal information. They often send links to fake websites that appear genuine. Once on the site, you’re asked to enter account details, which the scammers then steal.

For more information on protecting yourself from these scams, visit: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/know-the-risks/common-risks-and-threats/text-message-scams/

Recovery scams involve scammers contacting individuals who have already lost money to a scam, claiming they can help them recover their lost funds. Often the scammers will ask for an upfront fee for their assistance. This is just another scam.

Be cautious about who you talk to and wary of anyone other than your bank that claims they can help recover your stolen funds. Remember that scammers may pretend to be from your bank. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be your bank, hang up and call back on the bank’s publicly listed number. For more information on these types of scams visit: www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/get-protected/guides/protect-yourself-from-recovery-room-scams/

These scams involve scammers impersonating your bank (for example through SMS (text) messages or on the phone). Often, they will ask you to transfer money to a ‘safe’ account, to protect it from scammers. Rabobank will never ask you to do this. If you receive a call asking you to transfer your funds to another account to protect it from scammers, hang up and call us immediately.

Remember, we will never ask you to:

• Provide your banking passwords, PINs, or two-factor authentication codes;
• Share your credit card details;
• Transfer money to a ‘safe’ account, purchase gift cards, or set up cryptocurrency accounts;
• Download software or allow remote access to your device.

For more information on these types of scams visit: https://www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/know-the-risks/common-risks-and-threats/scam-calls/