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How to Stay Safe from Scams This Holiday Season

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How to Stay Safe from Scams This Holiday Season 


With the holiday season in full swing, there’s been a noticeable increase in scams targeting Kiwis. These fraudulent activities can lead to significant financial losses, and in most cases, recovering the money is not possible. While it’s tempting to adopt a “she’ll be right” attitude, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect. The reality is, anyone can be a target.


Here’s what you need to know about common scams in New Zealand and how you can protect yourself.


Phishing Scams


Phishing scams involve tricking you into giving away sensitive information like passwords, logins, credit card details, or personal data. Scammers often pose as trusted organisations, such as your bank, KiwiSaver provider, or a favourite online store. These scams usually come in the form of emails that appear genuine and contain links to fake websites. If you input your details, they can be used to access your accounts.


How to Protect Yourself:


  • Be cautious with emails: Avoid clicking on links or providing personal information in response to unexpected emails.


  • Check the sender’s email address: Look for spelling errors, random characters, or unknown addresses.


  • Don’t share your login details or PIN: Legitimate organisations like Generate will never ask for this information.


  • Use secure PINs: Avoid using easily guessed numbers, such as your date of birth or repeated digits.


  • Keep your devices secure: Ensure your phone and computer have up-to-date security software, and enable automatic updates.


  • Avoid public Wi-Fi: Don’t use public networks for sensitive online activities.


  • Inspect links before clicking: Hover over links to see the actual URL, and if it seems suspicious, don’t click

Report It: If you receive a suspicious email or message, you can report it to Cert NZ.



Remote Access Scams

These scams often start with an unexpected call or message from someone claiming to be from tech support or a company you know, such as Amazon, your bank, or your KiwiSaver provider. They may say there’s a security issue that requires you to download software or give them access to your device. Once they have remote access, they can steal your personal information or take control of your accounts.


How to Protect Yourself:
  • Never give remote access: If someone contacts you unexpectedly asking for access, refuse.


  • Verify the caller: Hang up and contact the company directly using their official website or phone number.


  • Beware of urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to make you act without thinking.
  • Know what you’re downloading: Only download software you trust and understand.

Important: Generate will never ask you to give remote access to your device or download software like Anydesk or TeamViewer.


Cold Call Scams

In cold call scams, fraudsters contact you unexpectedly and ask for personal or financial information. They may claim your account is compromised and suggest transferring funds to a “safe” account.


How to protect yourself
  • Don’t engage with unexpected calls: If the call is from an unknown or international number, let it go to voicemail.


  • Verify claims: Contact the organisation using the details provided on their official website.


  • Block the number: If you suspect a scam, block the caller to prevent further contact.


Remember: Generate will never call you from an international number or ask you to move money to another account.

General Tips to Stay Safe from Financial Fraud


1. Stay informed: Familiarise yourself with common scam tactics.


2. Take your time: Always stop and think - scammers count on you acting without thinking. 


3. Keep passwords and PINs secure: Never share them with anyone, and make sure your Generate KiwiSaver membership login uses a password or PIN that’s different from your other passwords.


4. Verify communications: Double-check unsolicited emails, messages, or calls before responding.


5. Use secure websites: Look for “https://” in the URL and a padlock symbol when sharing sensitive information online.


6. Trust your instincts: If something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.



Report scams: If you encounter a scam, report it immediately to Cert NZ or Netsafe.


For more resources and support, visit:



Protect Yourself and Your Community


By staying vigilant and informed, you can help protect yourself and others from falling victim to scams. If you suspect fraudulent activity that appears to involve Generate, contact us immediately at 0800 855 322.


Enjoy a safe and scam-free festive season!



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