Protect Yourself From the Latest Wave of Bank Scams
If you ever receive a call from a bank's "fraud department", HANG UP IMMEDIATELY - do not even engage with them, they may know some details of your accounts already and sound very convincing. Ring your bank and let them know what has happened so they can monitor your account
Scammers are getting bolder — and smarter. Lately, we’ve seen a spike in fraudsters calling clients while pretending to be from “the bank,” often sounding professional, urgent, and surprisingly convincing. Their goal is simple: to pressure you into handing over sensitive information or approving transactions before you have time to think. It’s a growing problem, and awareness is your best defence.
The danger is that these calls often mimic real bank behaviour. Scammers may spoof legitimate phone numbers, quote partial personal details, or claim there’s “suspicious activity” on your account. They rely on panic to get you talking. But here’s the key point: your bank will never ask for passwords, full card numbers, secure codes, or remote access to your device over the phone. If someone is pushing you for these details, no matter how trustworthy they sound, it’s almost certainly a scam.
Staying vigilant doesn’t mean living in fear — it just means slowing down, double-checking, and protecting your information the same way you’d protect your wallet. If something feels off, hang up, call the bank back using an official number, or reach out to us for a second opinion. A genuine representative will never pressure you or get upset if you want to verify their identity.
Again: If you ever receive a call from a bank's fraud department, HANG UP IMMEDIATELY - do not even engage with them. Then ring your bank and let them know what has happened
Here are the fraud-reporting or scam-helpline numbers for some of the major NZ banks:
BNZ: 0800 735 901 (or +64 4 473 5901 from overseas)
ASB Bank: 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372) or +64 9 303 0332 from overseas
ANZ Bank New Zealand: 0800 269 296 (24/7) / overseas +64 4 470 3142
Kiwibank: 0800 113 355 (or +64 4 473 1133 from overseas)
Westpac New Zealand: 0800 400 600 (or +64 9 912 8000 from overseas)