Avast Scamdemic Centre

New Zealand is in the midst of a scamdemic. Reports of cybercriminals targeting the wallets of everyday consumers are continually being reported to government scam watch services like CERT NZ in record-high numbers as scammers become craftier with their methods and find new and innovative ways to target and obtain our personal information.

What are the numbers?

The data reflects New Zealanders' experience with scams. At Avast, we believe in prevention and encourage a unified effort to speak up about our experiences with scams.

59%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

3 in 5 have experienced a spike in attempted scams over the last 12 months.

91%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

9 in 10 agreed that online scams are becoming much more sophisticated and increasingly more personal and targeted.

35%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

Over a third encounter scams on a weekly basis.

54%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

More than half admit that they would feel embarrassed if they fell for a scam.

46%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

Nearly half admit they would be more likely to fall for a scam that addresses them personally by name.

85%

of NEW ZEALENDERS

The majority agrees that there needs to be more education around how to avoid falling for a scam.

What our research is telling us is that there is a disconnect between the perceived confidence of New Zealanders when it comes to their ability to identify a scam, and the increasing volume of money being reported lost every year. It’s incredibly important that we work together to share our experiences to help others avoid falling victim.

Stephen Kho

Cyber Security Expert at Avast

Examples of recent scams

As scams become more sophisticated and targeted, it can be challenging to identify scams. We have included some examples of recent scams from everyday New Zealanders.

Delivery scams

Pay attention to notifications that disclose what company they are from and request an action from you by clicking a link.

We attempted to deliver your parcel to you however nobody was able to accept it. Circumstance: https://bit.ly/3Nt3uad

Employment scams

Be wary of receiving text messages or emails that seem too good to be true and request you to contact them for the offer via clicking on a link.

Hi, We are Hiring Promoter of eBay. Work At Home easily earn 300 per-day. 100%Safe & Legal Work, No Risk, If interested Please Contact WhatsApp wa.link/ebay06

Cryptocurrency scams

Text scams can be targeted and personal, don’t take immediate action from a number you don’t recognise or doesn’t make sense for you to be receiving.

Hey Mate, with this Bitcoin start to earn money every time someone makes a transaction. Join now!

nowbitcoin.xyz/klq5ld4kb

Reply STOP to opt out

How to speak to loved ones about identifying and avoiding scams

Together we can work to destigmatise the experience of being scammed so we can all live safer online lives by sharing our experiences with family and friends.

Act out scenarios

Rather than giving loved ones a list of dos and don’ts, educate them about the situations they might find themselves in. For instance – if you have an elderly loved one who uses their land line as their main form of communication, talk them through what to do if they find themselves on the other end of a suspicious caller asking for their personal details. Another tactic is to write them a refusal script with statements such as “Don’t call again” or “I don’t give out that information over the phone”.

Education is key

Share real-life examples of scams with your loved ones that you have experienced. Sharing stories will help your loved ones understand how easy it is to fall victim to often very crafty and legitimate-looking scams. Send your loved ones articles about different types of common scams and keep them informed about any scams that are currently circulating.

If unsure, then ask

Start family and friend group chats where you can share screenshots of potential scams with each other and allow members to share instances where they are not sure if they are receiving a scam or a legitimate request. It’s always ok to ask questions and to ask someone you trust for their opinion on the offer, deal, email, phone call, or SMS.

There is no shame in falling victim

It’s easy to fall into the trap of a scam. Scammers are becoming increasingly better at disguising themselves as businesses, organisations, and individuals. Remind friends and loved ones that it’s ok to question the legitimacy of something before engaging with anything they come across through their device or over the phone.

Encourage a second defence

Having an open line of communication with family and friends about scams is important and so is having up-to-date security as a last line of defence when these conversations aren’t enough. Make sure your digital security products are up to date and encourage family and friends to have the appropriate security too.

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Avast Scamdemic Centre

What are the numbers?

Stephen Kho

Examples of recent scams

Delivery scams

Employment scams

Cryptocurrency scams

How to speak to loved ones about identifying and avoiding scams

Act out scenarios

Education is key

If unsure, then ask

There is no shame in falling victim

Encourage a second defence

Is your digital security up to date?

Get privacy and performance tips, straight from the experts

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