Banking Ombudsman Scheme (NZ)

01/11/2026

Would you know if a call was really from your bank? 🥷 Scammers can disguise the number they’re calling from, making their calls look legitimate.

If something doesn’t feel right, hang up and contact your bank directly.

👇 Find out what to look out for below.

Scam alert: Scammers are using the FMA's phone number (0800 434 566) while pretending to be NZ banks.

Scammers are making calls that appear to come from the FMA’s phone number while impersonating bank fraud teams.

The FMA does not initiate unsolicited contact via this number and recommends the calls are not answered or called back.
If you do answer an unexpected call from this number:

• Do not share your banking details, passwords, PINs, verification codes, or other personal or financial information
• Hang up, even if the number displayed looks legitimate
• Do not give the caller remote access to your device or allow them to view or share your screen.

If you have already provided banking information or believe your account may be at risk, contact your bank immediately using the phone number or contact method on its official website.

A phone number appearing on your screen does not confirm who is calling. Scammers can spoof legitimate phone numbers to make their calls appear genuine.

The FMA will never ask for your banking login details, PINs or verification codes, ask you to transfer money, or request your personal or financial information. If someone claiming to be from the FMA asks you to do any of these things, hang up.

06/10/2026

Keep it to yourself
Scams thrive on sensitive information. The less cybercriminals can find, the less they can use against you or your customers.
(This selfie is sharing more than an office friendship!)

Not everything needs to be shared. Check who can see your social media, and think carefully before giving sensitive information to an AI tool.
• Check your social media privacy settings
• Think before sharing sensitive information with AI tools
• Before you post or paste, ask: would I be happy if this became public?

The more scammers know about you, the easier you are to target.
Remember, scammers can’t use information they don’t have.

Our quick guide has some precautions to help keep your money safe from scammers. https://www.bankomb.org.nz/guides-and-cases/quick-guides/fraud-and-scams/staying-safe-from-scams

05/10/2026

Don't take the bait

Can you spot the scam?
(Sorry, it’s not really Brad Pitt)

AI is making scams more convincing than ever, so treat any unexpected request as suspicious.

Think before you click:
• Check who the message is really from
• Be wary of unexpected or urgent requests.

Our quick guide has some precautions to help keep your money safe from scammers. https://www.bankomb.org.nz/guides-and-cases/quick-guides/fraud-and-scams/staying-safe-from-scams

04/10/2026

Lock it down
How secure are your accounts?
(Don’t be this guy!)

Advancing technology makes it easier than ever for scammers to crack simple passwords.

These two simple actions can keep out the majority of online attacks:
• Use long, strong and unique passphrases for your important accounts
• Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever you can.

Our quick guide has some precautions to help keep your money safe from scammers. https://www.bankomb.org.nz/guides-and-cases/quick-guides/fraud-and-scams/staying-safe-from-scams

01/10/2026

AI attacks are getting smarter, faster, and harder to spot. Cyber criminals aren't just targeting computers, they're targeting people. That’s why our people are our strongest line of defence.

We’re taking part in Cyber Smart Week (5-11 October) to help our people build cyber-smart habits and strengthen our cyber resilience

16/09/2026

This Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we're celebrating Ake, Ake, Ake – A Forever Language and the communities helping te reo Māori thrive.

You can also find information about the Banking Ombudsman Scheme's complaints process in te reo Māori: https://bankomb.org.nz/the-complaint-process/languages-2/te-reo-maori

15/09/2026

2025–26 was another busy year for the scheme, marked by a decade-high number of formally investigated disputes, faster resolution times, and growing financial hardship pressures.

Learn more in our 2025–26 Annual Report: https://www.bankomb.org.nz/reporting/annual-reports

17/08/2026

This , why not make a start on your emergency fund?

Small, regular amounts add up over time - and having even a little put aside can make a real difference when something unexpected happens.

If you can see difficulty ahead, you don't have to navigate it alone. Reach out early - support is available.

www.bankomb.org.nz/make-a-complaint

[email protected]

0800 805 950

10/08/2026

Financial Markets Authority NZ is warning that scammers are impersonating Binance offering free cryptocurrency or a ticket prize, tricking people into entering their account details on a fake website. Some people have reportedly lost money.

Read the full alert from the Financial Markets Authority to learn how to protect yourself.

Scam alert: fake Binance text messages

Have you received a text claiming to be from Binance offering free cryptocurrency or a ticket prize? Don't click the link. It may be a phishing scam designed to steal your cryptocurrency.

We've received reports of text messages claiming to be from Binance. The messages state that Binance is an FMA-approved academy and invite recipients to claim a ticket or win cryptocurrency. The FMA does not endorse or approve trading academies or cryptocurrency education providers. Any claim that an organisation or programme is “FMA-approved” is false.

If you click the link, you'll be taken to a website that asks you to enter or connect your cryptocurrency wallet. We believe this may be an attempt by scammers to gain access to your wallet and steal your cryptocurrency.

Protect yourself:
- Do not click on the links
- Do not connect your cryptocurrency wallet or provide personal information
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM) for free to help disrupt this scam

If you're unsure whether an offer is genuine, contact the organisation directly through its official channels.

Department of Internal Affairs

10/08/2026

August is !

Building an emergency savings fund doesn't have to be a big leap. Even setting aside a small amount can help you feel a bit more in control if something unexpected comes up.

A buffer can take some of the pressure off when life throws a curveball, like an unexpected bill or a change in circumstances.