20 November 2025

Fraud Awareness Week 2025

New Zealanders lost $265 million to fraud in the past year. Every day, thousands of Kiwis are targeted by increasingly sophisticated scams many hard to detect. Investment scams remain a major contributor to these losses.

To mark Fraud Awareness Week 2025, we want to make it easier to find the right place to report scams and suspicious activity. Our guide explains exactly where to go, whether you’ve encountered an investment scam, a phishing email, or a suspicious message online.

This year’s theme Stop, Check, Report is a call to action for all New Zealanders:

Stop before sharing personal or financial information.
Check whether the request or offer is genuine
Report suspicious activity to the relevant authorities

Quick tips to shut down an investment scam

Scammers don’t discriminate. Anyone can be scammed and we all have a part to play in shutting down scammers. Here are some quick tips on how to recognise the warning signs of an investment scam and shut it down.

Download Quick Tips to Shut Down an Investment Scam [PDF 95KB]

Recognise the red flags

They contact you ‘out of the blue’ with an investment offer.
They promise you guaranteed high investment returns with no or very low risk.
They pressure you to act fast to avoid missing out on the opportunity.
Their explanations about the investments are complex or vague.
They ask for advance payments and continuous fees before you can withdraw your funds.

Stay vigilant

Avoid sharing personal and financial information on websites you are unfamiliar with.
Be cautious when investments are promoted on social media.
Don’t download remote access software when instructed, this will allow the scammer to steal personal and financial information from your device.
Trust your instincts: If something’s not right, shut them down.

Verify before you commit

Investigate before you invest – use different public sources (e.g. Google) to look up information on the
company you want to invest with.
Check the Financial Service Providers Register (fspr.govt.nz) to see whether the company is registered to provide financial services in New Zealand.
Get advice from a licensed financial advice provider.
Check the scam warnings on the FMA’s website.

If you’ve been targeted by an investment scam

Stop all contact with the scammer – DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY.
Contact your bank or payment service provider as soon as possible. Ask if a transaction reversal is possible.
Tell a trusted relative or friend what has happened. They may help you deal with the scammers, and suggest what to do next.
Report the scam to the FMA and/or the Police.
Be alert when someone claims to be able to help you recover your funds.
This may be a recovery scam, which targets individuals who have lost funds in a previous scam.

Where to get help

Financial Markets Authority
Phone 0800 434 567 or visit fma.govt.nz for advice or to report an investment scam.

Victim Support
Phone 0800 842 846 for free emotional and practical support and information.

Department of Internal Affairs
Report spam emails here: www.dia.govt.nz/Spam-Report-Spam
Forward spam texts to 7726.

NZ Police
Phone 105 to report fraud, or 111 if you’re in immediate danger.

ID Care
Phone 0800 121 068 or visit www.idcare.org for free advice and support on keeping your identity protected.

National Cyber Security Centre
For information on cyber security and how to stay safe online, visit www.ownyouronline.govt.nz.

Netsafe
If you’re looking for information or advice about how to keep yourself safe online, visit Netsafe at www.netsafe.org.nz

Financial Advisers
Talk to a financial adviser if you have questions or are unsure about an investment.
For more information on getting financial advice, including how to find a financial adviser, visit How do I find an adviser?

Looking for information?