New Zealanders are set to benefit from a strengthened national response to online scams, with the “Anti-Scam Alliance” unveiling a series of new initiatives aimed at reducing fraud and protecting consumers.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer said scammers continue to target people through fake websites, text messages, phone calls and social media advertisements, causing significant financial and personal harm.
The latest measures include an expansion of the banking sector’s Confirmation of Payee system, allowing customers to verify account names before transferring money, with the protection being extended to fintech companies and other non-bank providers. The Alliance has also launched the New Zealand Online Scams Code, supported by major digital platforms, while telecommunications companies are enhancing efforts to block scam calls and text messages before they reach consumers.
The new initiatives build on recent legislative changes that allow online service providers to remove suspected scam content more quickly under amendments to the Fair Trading Act. Officials say the collaborative approach between banks, telecommunications providers, technology companies, government agencies and consumer groups is already delivering results. A six-month pilot involving major banks, telcos and Trade Me blocked more than 23,000 malicious websites and domains, preventing an estimated $23.8 million in fraud losses.
Brewer said no single solution would eliminate scams, but the coordinated effort is designed to make New Zealand a far more difficult target for fraudsters while giving consumers greater confidence when banking, shopping and communicating online.
