Scams are designed to trick us and are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to spot. Here’s where to learn more about some of the latest scams that our Customer Protection tīma (team) have detected.

Last updated: 8 October 2024

Be alert

We'll never ask for your passwords, PINs, KeepSafe questions or card details by phone or email. If you're suspicious, stop the communication immediately and contact us on 0800 113 355.

Impersonation scams

There are a wide variety of impersonation scams including phishing emails and texts, phone calls, fake websites and web ads. All pretend to be a trusted entity, like an bank or company representative, and most try to use a false sense of trust and urgency in order to manipulate you.

Impersonation scams: Phone calls

We’re seeing a lot of phone scams targeting customers, claiming to be from Kiwibank. These calls can come from 0800, local or overseas numbers and ask you for your banking login details, passwords or authentication codes.

We’ll never ask for your passwords, KeepSafe questions and answers, PIN, or card details over the phone. We’ll always verify your identity in other ways to ensure your personal information and accounts are kept safe.

If you're ever unsure whether a call is legitimate, ask for a name or reference number and call us back on 0800 113 355 (or +64 4 473 1133 from overseas).

Impersonation scams: Phishing & smishing

We've been seeing a notable increase in text and email phishing scams impersonating Kiwibank, NZTA, NZ Post and telecommunications companies.

These texts and emails often look legitimate. They generally include a fraudulent link that will take you to a webpage or form that asks you to input personal details which will be used by scammers.

Example: Kiwibank text scam

This scam appears to be sent from a 'short code' used by telcos, banks, and other legitimate organisations. More information on this scam is available on Own Your Online by CERT NZ.

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Example: NZTA impersonation text scam

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Example: NZ Post impersonation text scam

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What to do

  • Scam text messages: If you receive a text message that you think could be a scam, forward the text to 7726.
  • Scam emails: Forward suspicious emails to suspicious.email@kiwibank.co.nz then delete it.
  • All scam types: Call us on 0800 113 355, or send us a secure message within internet banking or the mobile app.

Investment scams

Investment scams continue to circulate. The Financial Markets Authority have a list of businesses or individuals you should be wary of if you're planning to invest.

Investment scams: Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency scams have been appearing on social media and messaging apps like WhatsApp, offering unrealistic investment returns. Some of these scams claim to be endorsed by well-known New Zealanders or are run as pyramid type schemes where investors are encouraged to bring others on board the scheme.

Scammers will try to make you believe you're investing in your own cryptocurrency wallet, however when you try to withdraw these investments you'll be unable to or asked for more money to "release" the investment.

Investment scams: WhatsApp educational and investment platform

This recent investment scam is targeting people on social media platforms. It offers free education or tips on investment trading and prompts users to join a WhatsApp group. The WhatsApp group is usually led by someone described as a 'mentor', 'professor' or 'coach'.

The mentor will introduce and recommend an investment platform which appears authentic, but is not. Some of these websites may have obtained licenses from overseas authorities or appear to be endorsed by media articles which have been distributed by the scammers to suggest credibility. 

Learn more about this scam on the Financial Markets Authority website.

Investment scams: Term Deposit rates

This particular type of scam has been targeting Kiwibank customers who've been searching for the best Term Deposit rates via search engines. Fraudulent comparison websites, such as ratesfinder.co.nz and nzcomparerates.com, are set up purely to collect the contact details of people who are interested in making an investment or rolling off an existing Term Deposit soon.

After inputting details into a fraudulent website, the scammer will follow up with a phone call. They might even reference a genuine Kiwibank staff member's name and potentially send a fake Kiwibank-branded document containing information on Term Deposits.

What to do

If you think you've been targeted by an investment scam, call us on 0800 113 355, or send us a secure message within internet banking or the mobile app.

Helpful resources

What to do if you've been scammed

Anyone can fall for a scam. If you suspect that you've been scammed, get in touch with us as soon as possible.

Get in touch

Call us on 0800 113 355 (or +64 4 473 1133 from overseas) if you think you've been scammed.

Report suspicious activity

If you think you’ve been sent an email that doesn’t look like it’s from us, forward it to suspicious.email@kiwibank.co.nz.