Consumer NZ data shows 8 in 10 people are confident they can spot scams – but that confidence could be your downfall.
Scammers are getting better at looking legitimate, especially with the ever-evolving capabilities of AI. Their messages can appear to come from a bank, delivery company, government agency, retailer or even someone you know.
Consumer NZ’s latest Sentiment Tracker shows 8% of households lost money to scammers in the past 12 months, and one quarter of those lost over $1,000. A further 30% were targeted but did not lose money.
Despite the high number of attempts going on, nearly eight in 10 New Zealanders are confident or somewhat confident they can spot a scam.
That confidence is worth testing, as scammers rely on urgency, fear, authority and too-good-to-be-true offers to push people into acting fast. A missed-delivery text, fake investment offer, bogus refund, bank alert or social media ad can seem convincing at first look.
With Netsafety Week 2026 about to kick off, it’s a good time to test your scam-spotting skills. Try Netsafe’s short online quiz to see how hard it can be to tell the difference between a scam and the real thing.
Before you click, pause and check
Scams are designed to catch people off guard. A few extra seconds of checking can make the difference.
Remember the SCAMS acronym:
Surprise: Unexpected message or call? Do not click on links or use phone numbers in unexpected messages – go straight to the organisation’s official website or app.
Control: Being rushed or pressured? Slow down if a message pressures you to act now.
Access: Asked to share passwords or access? Never share passwords, verification codes or remote access details.
Money: Asked to pay urgently? Be wary of unusual payment methods or offers that sound too good to be true.
Stop: Stop, don’t click or pay. If in doubt, talk to someone you trust before sending money or personal information.
About Netsafety Week 2026
Netsafety Week runs from 17 to 23 August, and this year’s theme is “Online safety is a team sport – play your part”. As part of the programme, Netsafe is running a free public webinar series covering scams, young people online, digital parenting, artificial intelligence, women’s safety, rainbow communities and online community moderation.
One session worth checking out is “Scamscape Aotearoa: Inside the Scams Targeting New Zealanders – and How to Beat Them”, on Monday 17 August from 12pm to 1.15pm. Consumer NZ will be a panellist on this session.
Visit Netsafe’s Netsafety Week 2026 page for the full programme of free webinars, resources and activities.
