Kiwibank is asking New Zealanders to stay vigilant after scammers impersonated Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich in fake social media ads and news stories to promote a fraudulent investment platform.
Mr Jurkovich says it’s a reminder that fraudsters are making scams look increasingly legitimate: “Scams are designed to trick people, and the appearance of legitimacy can be enough to push people into decisions they might otherwise question.”
He says these types of scams often rely on urgency and pressure and he wants Kiwi to be especially cautious of any investment opportunity promoted using his name or image.
“I am not associated with any investment platform using my name or image. If you see my name promoting an investment, it’s a scam. Please stay alert as scams continue to evolve, especially if you receive unexpected calls, texts, or emails. Kiwibank continues to invest in fraud and scam prevention to protect our customers.”
For more information about latest scams, see our Latest scams page.
What to do
Do not click links to share personal or banking information. If you think you’ve been targeted or have shared information, contact your bank as soon as possible. For more information, see our Fraud and scam hub.
Media contact: External Communications media@kiwibank.co.nz.