Meanwhile, the Bankers Association had launched a “take a sec to check” campaign, to alert people about how to prevent getting scammed online.
“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.
Banks are asking people to ‘take a sec to check’ before they part with their money or personal information, in a campaign aimed at raising scam awareness over summer.
“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,” says New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont.
“Scams are a form of financial crime. They are constantly evolving and increasingly sophisticated. Scams tend to involve criminals pretending to be a trusted person or organisation who then persuade people to make payments to them or hand over personal information to access their 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.
“Tomorrow we’re launching a campaign to help raise awareness about scams. We’re using radio ads, street posters and social media to get the message out.
“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.
Tips to help you stay safe:
Stay alert
Be alert to texts or emails. Never click on links in unsolicited emails or text messages. Report and delete suspicious messages.
Be wary of cold calls asking for personal details or money. If an unexpected phone call seems suspicious, hang up and call the business back using its publicly available phone number.
Keep up to date with the latest scams to help recognise the warning signs.
Be proactive
Use unique, long passwords and change these regularly. Keep all passwords and security codes secure – don’t disclose these to anyone.
Never give a stranger remote access to your computer or device.
Safeguard your devices by keeping operating systems and apps up to date.
Take your time
If someone is pressuring you to do something, it may be a sign they’re trying to scam you. Take your time and check out who you’re dealing with before providing your details or sending any money.
Report it
Report any suspected scams to your bank.
For more information about scams, see: https://www.nzba.org.nz/banking-information/fighting-financial-crime/scams/.
ENDS
The Reserve Bank says it will review its Open Bank Resolution bank failure tool once the planned depositor compensation scheme is rolled out amid suggestions from the New Zealand Bankers’ Association that the OBR will remain the Reserve Bank’s primary resolution and depositor protection tool for large banks.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand
New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says in the current climate it is not surprising to see mortgagee sales starting to rise. But mortgagee sales are a “last resort”, he says. They are also rare, and represent a tiny fraction of the around 1.25 million home loans there are in New Zealand.
The NZ Bankers’ Association submitted that the crown research institute model made it extremely difficult for businesses to access and use this data.
NZ Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said it was important for customers to speak to their bank as early as possible if they were “doing it tough”.
“If you’re considering borrowing from your bank, it’s always worth having a chat with them to find out what they’ll be looking for and what you can do to help get your application over the line.
Finance and Expenditure Committee