Someone I met online says crypto investment is guaranteed profit. Can I trust them?
No. Promises of high returns with low risk are a warning sign of an investment scam. Never send money or cryptocurrency to someone whose identity you have not checked. Check the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Warning List before you invest, but a company not on the list is not automatically safe. Report investment scams to the FMA.
Official figures
- First thing to do after a scam
- Contact your bank (or the service you used to send the money) straight away. The sooner your bank knows, the better the chance of getting your money back.1
- Report a scam
- Report it online to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).1
- Lost money: report to Police
- Call the Police non-emergency number 105, or report online on the Police website. In an emergency, call 111.3
- Investment scams
- Report to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).1
- Scam text messages
- Forward them free to 7726 (the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) reporting number).5
Official sources
- Scammed? Take actionConsumer Protection (MBIE) · consumerprotection.govt.nz
- Types of scamsConsumer Protection (MBIE) · consumerprotection.govt.nz
- Fraud/Scam/CyberNew Zealand Police · police.govt.nz
- Signs of a scamInland Revenue · ird.govt.nz
Read the full guide: Scams in New Zealand: common tricks and how to report them →
People also ask
- I got a call from 'Inland Revenue' saying I owe tax and must pay now. Is it real?
- Someone says they are police or embassy officials from my home country and I am involved in a crime. They want me to transfer money. What should I do?
- I got a text saying my parcel could not be delivered and I need to click a link and pay a fee. What should I do?
- I transferred money to a scammer. What is the first thing I should do? Can I get my money back?
- A family member messaged me on WhatsApp from a new number saying their phone broke and they urgently need money. How do I know if it is real?
- Where do I report scam texts and scam calls in New Zealand?
Answers are based on official New Zealand government pages. Check the official source before you act. This is not immigration, legal or tax advice.
How does this apply to me?
Tell us your situation for practical next steps, with official sources. Try a free question — no sign-in needed.
Share after you sign in with Google and your link will carry your invite code: when a friend signs up through it, you get 20 more questions. You can still share without signing in — it just won’t earn anything.Your link includes your invite code. When a friend signs up through it, you get 20 more questions (up to 10 friends).
Tap “···” at the top right to send to a friend or share to Moments