Scammers are targeting bank customers in New Zealand. Customers from Kiwibank, SBS Bank and ASB Bank have been affected so far. Read on to find out how to spot the scams, and what to do if you are affected.
If you need support or just someone to talk to, our Sonder support team is available 24/7 to chat whenever you need it.
How do the scams work?
Kiwibank scam:
Scammers send you an SMS claiming to have noticed an “unusual log-in attempt” and then ask people to follow the link
Text messages say customer action is required “due to irregular activity” and as a result bank accounts have been frozen.
SBS Bank imposter scam:
SBS Bank has warned people about predators hoping to cash in on increasingly popular term deposits.
Investors receive offers by email purporting to be from senior staff members of the bank. SBS Bank has confirmed that they are not associated with the offer or any email address using the domains of “sbs-am.com” or “sbs-clients.com”.
Anyone who received an email from the domains sbs-am.com or sbs-clients.com or sbs-im.com should not engage and report it immediately on 0800 727 2265
ASB Bank text message scam:
ASB is aware of a current phishing scam affecting their customers.
If you have been sent a text message claiming that a payment has been attempted from a new device containing a link to log in, do not click on any links and do not provide any personal information
ASB have confirmed they will never ask you to share your log in details or Netcode.
If you have clicked on this link please call us on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or +64 9 306 3000 if you’re overseas, or visit your local branch.
What to do
To stay safe from banking scams make sure you:
Don't respond to any SMS messages purporting to be from banks - even prompts like “STOP” to unsubscribe can be a trick.
Don't touch any links or contact info in the SMS.
Always type your bank's web address directly into an internet browser, and don't follow links from SMS messages or emails.
Use multi-factor authentication when logging into your bank .
If you aren't sure if a message you received is legitimate, or are worried that you might have been scammed, call your bank by looking up the phone number on the official bank website or on your latest bank statement.
Report scams to Cert NZ.
Where to get help
For privacy breaches, contact the Privacy Commissioner or call 0800 803 909.
For ID fraud visit the Department of Internal Affairs page with information about identity fraud - Identity - Are you a victim of identity theft -
For ASB customers’ fraud or phishing concerns. call 0800 272 372, or +649 306 3000 for people overseas
For SBS Bank cybersecurity issues call 0800 727 2265
For Kiwibank cybersecurity issues - 0800 11 33 55
Cert NZ - for individuals and small businesses to report a cyberattack and get advice.
IDCare will provide assistance on freezing your credit record and regaining control of your online identity after an ID theft.
Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety organisation. Report online bullying, hate speech, and dangerous content online or call toll-free on 0508 NETSAFE (0508 638 723).
Contact NZ Police to report cybercrime online scams, and online child safety issues.
Contact the Dept of Internal Affairs to report spam, banned content, and child exploitation.
If you have any questions or need extra support, we're here to help you anytime in any language. Simply start a chat with us via the home screen of the Sonder app.
Information sourced from: ASB Bank, NZ Herald, Netsafe, Newstalk ZB.
Image credit: Kindel Media on Pexels.
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice.