Here we have collected articles related to phone scams.

The share of scam calls coming from overseas is declining. However, tens of thousands of scam calls are still received every day in New Zealand.

A significant portion of international calls to New Zealand are linked to fraud. According to information released by local telecom operators, as many as 39% of international calls are estimated to be scam-related.

This still represents a notable decrease: a few years ago, the share of scam calls originating from overseas was estimated to be as high as 80%.

Telecommunications providers are doing their best to intercept as many suspicious calls as possible. In the first part of the year alone, operators in New Zealand blocked an average of 32,000 scam calls per day, for a total of nearly three million calls. Of these, more than two million originated from overseas.

The largest increase has been observed specifically in scam calls using international numbers.

– A good rule of thumb is never to call back an unknown overseas number that only rang once, explains a telecommunications security expert in a public statement.

A “one-ring” call refers to a deliberately very short call, designed so that the recipient does not have time to answer. The goal is to prompt the person to call the number back, resulting in very high charges. This technique is also known as the “callback scam” or “one-ring scam”.

“Despite everything…”

According to security experts, thanks to the efforts of telecom providers, scammers are increasingly less likely to reach people’s phones in New Zealand.

– Nevertheless, it is essential to remain cautious. Personal information, such as banking details, should never be shared over the phone, even if the caller claims to be an authority.

Scammers are particularly active on weekends and public holidays. They aim to manipulate victims by creating a sense of urgency or danger to pressure them into acting quickly.

– Despite everything, people should not be afraid to answer the phone. If something feels suspicious, it is best to trust your instincts and end the call immediately and decisively, the expert advises.

New Zealand Police are once again warning about scammers posing as police officers who attempt to obtain the banking credentials of elderly people.

The latest case known to authorities occurred last Saturday: scammers, pretending to be police officers and bank representatives, managed to trick an elderly woman living in New Zealand into handing over her banking details.

According to police, the offenders withdrew several thousand New Zealand dollars from the woman’s bank account.

Three phone calls from the scammers

The victim received three calls from an unknown number. The first call came from a woman who introduced herself as a police officer, claiming that the woman’s banking details had been identified during an investigation.

Shortly afterwards, the woman was contacted by a man who posed as a representative of her bank and told her that several thousand dollars had already been taken from her account.

Finally, a third call came from a man claiming to be a senior officer from New Zealand Police who said he was handling the case. He asked the woman to provide her online banking details in order to “recover” the stolen money. Believing the story, the victim shared her credentials. The man then told her that the funds had been recovered.

At the end of the conversation, however, the man instructed her not to use her bank account and not to tell anyone about what had happened. At that point, the elderly woman realised she had been scammed and immediately blocked access to her online banking.

The online report came too late

The woman reported the incident online, but by that time the money had already been withdrawn from her account.

– In cases of fraud like this, online reports may not reach police quickly enough. It is crucial to report the incident immediately, including by calling the emergency number 111, so there is still a chance to stop or limit the transfer of funds, a New Zealand Police spokesperson explained.

Police remind the public that they will never ask anyone for their banking codes or login details under any circumstances. Banks and other government agencies will also never request such information by phone, email, text message, or online chat.

Authorities strongly encourage family members and caregivers to discuss these scams with elderly relatives and remind them that bank cards and banking details must never be shared with anyone – even if the request appears to come from a “police officer”.

If banking credentials have already been provided to a scammer, both the police and the bank should be contacted immediately. All scam attempts should also be reported to the authorities.

New Zealand Police investigate SMS scam messages

More than 13,000 scam text messages were sent nationwide.

New Zealand Police have completed preliminary investigations into a series of SMS scams, according to an official statement.

According to investigators, the main suspect, a 25-year-old man, together with accomplices, allegedly sent messages pretending to be the victims’ children.

Last autumn, more than 13,000 fraudulent SMS messages were sent across various parts of New Zealand. A total of 17 cases have so far been confirmed.

Up to NZ$10,000 requested over a supposed phone issue

In the messages, the scammers, posing as the victims’ children, claimed they urgently needed money, for example due to a broken mobile phone.

The requested amounts ranged from a few thousand dollars to more than NZ$10,000. In one case, victims were told that their child had changed phone number after the phone malfunctioned and that an immediate bank transfer was needed to two different accounts.

In total, the suspects are believed to have obtained more than NZ$67,000.

After receiving the money, the scammers allegedly withdrew the funds in cash from several ATMs in Auckland, sharing the proceeds according to each person’s role.

– This was an aggravated and well-organised scam, carried out systematically, involving multiple victims and generating significant illegal profits, said a senior detective involved in the investigation.

The main suspect remains in custody. The case has been referred to prosecutors for further legal proceedings.