I'm Calling From the Police…

A dangerous new scam is targeting New Zealanders right now, with criminals pretending to be NZ Police. They may tell you that your identity has been connected to a crime, or that your bank account or cryptocurrency is at risk. They may even appear to be calling from a genuine Police phone number — but don't trust the number on your screen. It can be faked. NZ Police will never ask you for: Your banking PIN or password Cryptocurrency seed phrases or wallet details Security codes sent to your phone If someone calls claiming to be Police and you're unsure: Hang up Don't give them any information Don't click anything they send you Talk to someone you trust If you need to check whether the call was genuine, contact Police yourself through 105 Remember: a genuine organisation will never mind you hanging up and calling them back yourself. That's the simplest rule to remember, and it works for almost every scam call — Police, banks, IRD, couriers, anyone. Got a suspicious call, text, or email? Just tell Helen what happened, or paste the message to her — she'll help you work out if it's genuine.