Scams are becoming more prolific and sophisticated, but there are ways you can spot the red flags to protect yourself and your family.
Scams are becoming more prolific and sophisticated, but there are ways you can spot the red flags to protect yourself and your family.
Cold call scams are on the rise
Cold calls are among the most common scams our fraud team sees, including cases where scammers have impersonated bank staff.
These scammers can be convincing, but there are some red flags to watch out for:
- Urgency: they will open the conversation with an urgent action you need to take.
- Pressure: they will tell you not to hang up and insist it isn’t a scam.
- Persistence: they will call you straight back and repeatedly if you hang up.
TSB team members will never do any of the above. In fact, we will encourage you to call us back on our publicly listed number if you are unsure.
Remember what TSB will never do
- We'll never ask for the login details to your online banking or app.
- We'll never ask for remote access to your devices or install software.
- We'll never send you text messages with links in them (no NZ bank will).
If you’re ever unsure about the legitimacy of a call, even from TSB, hang up and call back the publicly listed number. You should never feel pressured into making a decision.
Text message scams aren’t going away
You’re probably familiar with these ones. You’ll get a text about a bank or card payment, an overdue toll, or a courier package.
This is known as ‘phishing’, which is when scammers send mass texts hoping someone will ‘bite’. People can get caught because the subject of the scams are so generic.
Our fraud team says this is one of the most common ways people lose their money.
Our advice is to treat every unknown text as a possible scam. If you are unsure, never follow links or engage with the sender.
Never share text authentication codes
TSB sometimes sends authentication codes via text before you complete a purchase.
Scammers have called customers from a fake TSB number, pressured them to provide codes sent to their phone to ‘stop transactions’, and used these codes to make fraudulent payments.
Remember: TSB will never ask you to provide these authentication codes, and you should never provide them to anyone.
Spread the word
Everyone is vulnerable to being scammed, regardless of age or tech savviness.
Talk to your friends and family about recent scams you have heard about. Raising awareness is key to preventing yourself and others from being drawn into a scam.
We’re here to help
If you think you have given your bank details to a scammer, or your account is compromised, call us immediately on 0800 872 226.