![\"Scams](\"../scams-hub/images/scams-security-message-1.png\")
\n![\"Scams](\"../scams-hub/images/scams-security-message-2.png\")
Tax time can be busy and confusing – and unfortunately, scammers know that.
\nThey often pretend to be from trusted places like the Inland Revenue (IRD) or Te Tari Taake to trick people into giving away money or personal details.
Scammers may:
\nSay you owe money and try to scare you.
Promise a refund to get your details.
Send fake emails, texts, or even call you pretending to be from Inland Revenue
It’s okay to pause and check. You don’t have to respond right away.
\nScammers may pretend to be from the Tax Office or other Government Agencies. If someone contacts you by email, phone, or SMS asking for personal or payment information, don’t share anything – it’s safest to hang up or delete the message. Instead, go to the official website and call the number listed there to ensure your speaking with the actual organisation.
\nTurn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for important accounts like your email, bank, social media, and any system that stores personal or customer information. It’s a simple way to keep your accounts safer.
Always type the web address into your browser yourself. Avoid clicking on links in emails or texts, even if they look real.
If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Take a moment to pause and check. If you get a suspicious message, don’t click on any links – just delete it.
If you’re unsure whether a message or call is real, it’s okay to ask someone you trust or contact Inland Revenue directly. You’re not alone – many people get these messages.
","frontmatter":{"id":"april-june-2026","title":"Apr - June 2026","title2":"Oct - Dec 2025","pretitle":"Jan - Mar 2026","prepath":"/scams-hub/jan-march-2026.html","description":"","date":"2026-04-08","path":"/scams-hub/april-june-2026.html","path2":"/scams-hub/october-december-2025.html","thumbnail":"scams-and-security.png","thumbnail2":"scam-alert.png"}}},{"node":{"html":"\nA common phishing tactic involve scammers pretending to be your child or another close family member. They usually claim:
\nThey’ve lost their phone
They’ve broken their phone
They’re using a “temporary number”
They need urgent help paying a bill, rent, or replacing the phone
They cannot access their bank account
See two examples below of a ‘Hey Mum/Dad’ scam.
\n\n
Stop and check\n– contact your child/family member on their usual number
\nDon’t transfer money \n to anyone claiming to be a family member without verifying their identity
\nNever share OTPs, passwords or security codes
\nAvoid clicking links \n in unexpected emails or messages
\nOnly enter personal details \n through official websites or apps
\nIf something feels urgent or unusual, that’s a red flag.
","frontmatter":{"id":"jan-march-2026","title":"Jan - Mar 2026","title2":"Jul - Sep 2025","pretitle":"Oct - Dec 2025","prepath":"/scams-hub/october-december-2025.html","description":" ","date":"2026-04-08","path":"/scams-hub/jan-march-2026.html","path2":"/scams-hub/jul-sep-2025.html","thumbnail":"scam-alert.png","thumbnail2":"scams-hub-jan-mar-2024.webp"}}},{"node":{"html":"![\"Employment](\"../scams-hub/images/employment-scam.png\")
Watch out - Keep an eye out for scammer creating fake job offers to steal your money and personal information. Always scrutinise any job that requires you to pay money upfront. These scammers often promise high-paying jobs with minimal effort. Frequently, the job doesn’t exist at all.
\nRemember - They may claim to represent high-profile companies, online shopping platforms, or well-known recruitment agencies, aiming to steal your money and personal details. Often, they request payment to start the role and receive the promised income.
\nWarning signs:
\nUnexpected contact: A recruiter reaches out through text or encrypted message platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram.
\nToo good to be true: The job offers high income for minimal effort. Quick hiring process: There's no interview or discussion of your qualifications, experience, or references.
\nUpfront financial commitment: You're asked to top up an account with your own money or cryptocurrency.
\nSuspicious tasks: The job involves transferring money, making purchases, or receiving packages for someone else.
\nFees for starting: You're required to pay a 'recruitment fee' or buy training materials before beginning the job.
\nPhishing scams may be sent by email, text message, phone call, or social media, and often pretend to be from trusted organisations. eg: PayPal, NZPost, ATO, TOLL
\nIf you click the link, they may ask for:
\nUsernames and passwords
Card or bank details
Onetime passwords (OTPs)
If you call the number, they may:
\nPretend to fix an issue or dispute transactions for you
Ask for security codes
Try to access your device
Guide you into making payments
See the examples below of common phishing scams:
\nFake invoice:A message claiming an invoice has been issued (often using names like Bitcoin) and asking you to click a link or call a number.
\n![\"Scam](\"/scams-hub/images/scam-alert-message-1.png\")
\nFake subscription renewal: A message saying a subscription has been renewed or will be charged, urging you to call to dispute it.
\n![\"Scam](\"/scams-hub/images/scam-alert-message-2.png\")
\nAvoid clicking links in unexpected messages
\nCheck and contact via phone numbers against the organisation’s official website
\nOnly enter personal details on official websites or apps
\nNever share OTPs, passwords or security codes
\n![\"Recovery](\"../scams-hub/images/recovery-scam.png\")
A scam recovery scam, also referred to as a fund recovery scam, occurs when criminals target individuals who have previously fallen victim to scams. These scammers falsely claim they can help you recover the stolen funds, often demanding an upfront fee or a percentage of the recovered amount. Unfortunately, even legitimate recovery services rarely succeed in recovering stolen money, and such scams only exacerbate the financial losses for victims.\n
\nLatitude is advising its customers to exercise caution when approached by individuals or organisations offering to recover stolen funds in exchange for an upfront fee. Victims should be aware that such promises are often deceptive. Latitude encourages individuals to report scams to local authorities and contact their financial institutions to initiate appropriate investigations.
Scammers typically make promises of full recovery, but in most cases, no funds are ever returned to the victim. Instead, scammers may request access to your computer or mobile device, further compromising their security. In the worst-case scenario, these additional scams result in more funds being stolen.
\nCriminals frequently pose as trusted entities such as government agencies, legal professionals, or charitable organisations. Some may even fabricate stories, pretending to be scam victims themselves, and claim that a specific individual or company was able to help them recover their lost money. A significant challenge in recovering funds from scam victims is the rapid transfer of money, often to offshore accounts, which makes the retrieval of these funds difficult.
To safeguard against falling victim to scam recovery scams, it is crucial to remain vigilant. Always be cautious of unsolicited offers to recover lost funds, especially if they require upfront payments or access to your personal devices. If you suspect you have been targeted, report the incident to the police and contact Latitude immediately.\n
\nRemember, legitimate recovery services rarely require upfront fees, and no one can guarantee the recovery of funds once they have been stolen. By staying informed and cautious, you can help protect yourself from these evolving scams.