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?
Call the old number saved in your phone to check first. This is a common scam, often called the 'Hi Mum' scam. Scammers pretend to be a family member, say their phone was lost or broken, and urgently ask for money. Do not send money until you have checked.
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 →
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Answers are based on official New Zealand government pages. Check the official source before you act. This is not immigration, legal or tax advice.
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