How to report scams

What are scams?

Online scams are intended to manipulate or trick people into giving away their personal details, financial details, or money.

Common forms of scams may include:

• Phishing or banking scams
• Job offer scams
• Death threat scams
• Inheritance scams
• Lottery scams

For an overview of these types of scams, see the about scams and phishing page.

A scam becomes fraud when a scammer gets someone’s personal or financial details and uses them for their own gain or receives money from their target under false pretences. Fraud is a criminal offence.

Where to report scams

If you wish to report a criminal offence in relation to a scam, contact the Police either by calling 105 or reporting online it via the 105 website.

You can report instances of TXT, Fax, or Email scams to us here: Report spam

For online incidents and other types of scams such as fraudulent phone calls, you can report to Netsafe.

There are multiple organisations who share the responsibility of dealing with online harms and to whom you can report scams, including Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs, CERT NZ, NZ Police, Netsafe, or individual telecommunication agencies. Each organisation covers a specific area of content and has a role to play in protecting people from online scams and spam.

The factsheet below is designed to help you to know which organisation to go to for help, support, and advice if you encounter spams or scams.

Where to report spam and scamsPDF, 1 page, 172KB*

Support for victims of online scams

For victim support for online scams, you can contact IDCARE either by visiting their website or calling them on 0800 121 068.