Banks launch campaign in wake of financial scams

It comes as the organisation launches a new campaign to encourage Kiwis to “take a sec to check” before transferring any money or giving out personal information through the bank.

“We’re encouraging everyone to take a moment before making a payment or giving away personal information, just to be sure it’s not a scam,” New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said.

“Scams are a form of financial crime. They are constantly evolving and increasingly sophisticated.”

Beaumont said scams usually involve criminals masking themselves as a trusted person or organisation before persuading people to make payments or give their personal information to them so they can access bank accounts.

“We know there’s no silver bullet when it comes to fighting financial crime. We also know it pays to be alert, know what to look out for, and how to deal with it. If you take a sec, you might save yourself from being scammed,” he said.

“We’re running this campaign over the summer break when people are more relaxed and might take a moment to think about scams and how to keep themselves safe.”