Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Cameron Brewer says Kiwis and businesses are getting a stronger line of defence against scammers, with the Anti-Scam Alliance releasing a raft of new initiatives to help protect people and their money.
“Scammers are relentless. They hit people through fake websites, dodgy texts, phone calls and social media ads, all to trick them into handing over their hard-earned money. The harm is financial, but it’s also deeply personal,” Mr Brewer says.
“This is a cross-sector issue, so it takes a collaborative approach to make a difference. That’s why we set up the Anti-Scam Alliance last year, bringing telcos, digital platforms, banks, government and consumer groups together to fight scams as one. Today the Alliance has released a fresh set of actions to keep New Zealanders one step ahead of the crooks.
Among them is an expansion of the banking sector’s ‘Confirmation of Payee’ system, which lets customers check the name they’re paying matches the account before any money leaves their hands.
“The banking sector is extending that safety net to cover fintechs and other non-bank providers, so whoever you bank with, you can pay with confidence. The Alliance is also rolling out the New Zealand Online Scams Code, backed by Google, Meta and TikTok, and the telco sector is sharpening its own code to stop scam calls and texts before they ever reach a Kiwi’s phone,” Mr Brewer says.
“This work complements changes to the Fair Trading Act so online service providers can move faster to pull down suspected scam content before people get burned.
These actions build on real results. A cross-sector pilot involving some of New Zealand’s biggest banks and telcos, alongside Trade Me, blocked more than 23,000 malicious domains in six months, saving Kiwis an estimated $23.8 million in fraud losses.
“There’s no silver bullet for scams. But by joining forces across every sector, we can give New Zealanders the confidence to bank, shop and connect online without looking over their shoulder. This is all part of the Government’s plan to fix the basics, build the future and make New Zealand a far harder target for the scammers preying on hardworking Kiwis,” Mr Brewer says.
