Get help
Here’s what to do if you think you’ve been targeted by a text message scam.
If you gave out some personal or financial details:
- contact the service provider for your online accounts – like your bank or your email provider. Let them know what’s happened and ask what they can do to help
- change the passwords for any online accounts you think might be at risk
- get a free credit check done. This will let you see if any accounts have been opened in your name. There are three main credit check companies in NZ – Centrix, Equifax and Illion. You can ask to have your credit record corrected if there’s any suspicious activity on it.
How to get a credit check report in NZ
If you downloaded or installed any software updates or applications:
- do a
factory reset
on your device as soon as possible. This will delete any data on your phone, including personal data
- if you can, restore your data from a backup made before installing the malicious software. Talk to your IT support person or a local computer services company if you need help to do this
- change the passwords to all your online accounts, and make your online banking and email accounts your priority. If you're worried your banks accounts have been accessed by someone without your knowledge, contact your bank immediately.
Report the message to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA)
Forward the scam text message free-of-charge to the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) at 7726. DIA will send you an automated response asking for the number that sent you the scam text so they can try to get it blocked. After you've sent them the number, delete the scam text message and block the number associated with the sender.
Report the issue to CERT NZ
You can also report an online issue or security incident like this to us at CERT NZ.
Get help now