Protect yourself

Caught by a scam? More often than not you’ll never see your money again.

• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. One of the best protections against scammers is simply not to respond.
• Never reply to any email or phone call that asks for your bank or credit card details – and don’t follow links from emails. Legitimate organisations will never ask you to do this. If anyone asks for your details, report it to your bank immediately.
• Don’t rely on address details provided in an email. Thoroughly check out any scheme or deal on offer. 
• Ignore any high-pressure sales tactics. 
• If you’re buying goods online, check the billing process is secure (indicated by the "s" in the "https" part of the URL plus a padlock or similar icon on your browser).
• Make sure the retailer has a physical address and telephone number listed on the website. Before you place the order, find out when and how you can cancel it or return something for a refund. 
• Regularly download the latest security patches for your internet browser and operating system. Also make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up-to-date. Some viruses are designed to deactivate your anti-virus software, so a virus-scan every week is useful. (You can automate this and do it daily if you wish.)

If the worst happens

If you’ve been scammed, act quickly.

• If you think the scam is being run within New Zealand, report it to the police. Other organisations may also be able to investigate, depending on what’s involved. For example, the Department of Internal Affairs investigates complaints about commercial spam (unsolicited commercial electronic messages with a New Zealand link). You can also report a scam to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, which can post a warning on its Scamwatch site. 
• If the scammers have got your bank account details, contact your bank immediately to suspend your account. If you paid by credit card, ask the bank for a charge back: your bank may be willing to cancel the charges or reverse the payment (policies vary so check with your bank). The bank may also suggest you cancel your credit card.
• If you think you’ve been a victim of identity theft, contact the police. If details of documents such as your driver’s licence or passport have been taken, contact the organisation that issued the document as soon as you can. It’s also a good idea to get a credit check done by a credit agency.