Each week, the U.S. Consulate General receives calls from concerned citizens who are contacted by individuals hoping to scam them, their family, and friends out of money. Scams appear in many forms and are designed to look legitimate. New Zealand Police has recently warned of an Inland Revenue Phone Scam and a Facebook Tradesman Scam.
The US Directorate of Cyber and Technology Security recently issued a warning on scams involving Natural Disaster Relief.
More recent scams targeting American citizens at home and abroad include Covid-19, Facebook (Craigslist) Trading, Prize and Sweepstake, Romance, Cloned Accounts, Sextortion, Grandparent/Relative, Drug Trafficking, Turkey Drop, Teahouse/Restaurant/Bar, and Home Improvement.
Actions to Take:
Tips to protect yourself – and your money – from scams:
- Never send money to someone if you have not met in person.
- Don’t disclose personal details over the phone or online – especially in your social media platforms.
- Refer someone claiming to be a U.S. citizen in distress overseas to the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.
- Research tradespeople found on social media feeds before engaging their services.
- Don’t respond to suspicious emails.
Who to contact for information and to report a scam:
- Ic3.gov – Federal Bureau of Investigation – Internet Complaint Center IC3
- Netsafe.org.nz – New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety organization.
- IDCare.org – New Zealand and Australia’s national identity & cyber support service.
Assistance
U.S. Consulate General Auckland, Level 3, Citigroup Building, 23 Customs Street East, Auckland 1010
Contact information: +64 09 303 2724, AucklandACS@state.gov
State Department Consular Affairs: +1 888-407-4747 or +1 202-501-4444
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