Latest scams & alerts

We are aware of an active cold call scam where criminals are impersonating TSB staff and calling customers using fake TSB phone numbers. These calls may appear genuine and professional, but they are scammers. These scammers tell customers their accounts are not safe and may ask them to delete the TSB banking app, answer security questions, or provide one-time codes (2FA) sent to their phone. They may also request details such as your customer number, email address, or card information.

Please remember, TSB will never:

• Ask you to read one-time codes out loud
• Ask you to share your online banking or app login details
• Ask you to delete your banking app
• Ask for full card details
• Ask you to give remote access to your device

If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately.

If you are ever unsure that a call from TSB is legitimate, hang up and call us back on 0800 872 226. You are not obligated to answer any questions or stay on the phone if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.  

The FMA have seen an increase in individuals being introduced to scam investments through unsolicited messages on social media chat platforms, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, Facebook/Messenger, Instagram and Viber. 

These messages can come from people falsely claiming to be an employee of an investment firm or bank and offering attractive investment opportunities. 

The FMA have also received reports from people introduced to scam investments after unexpectedly receiving messages with invitations to join chat groups to discuss or learn about investing.  

Be extremely cautious if you receive an unexpected message via a social media chat about any investment opportunity. 

This will usually be a scam. Even if the offer comes from the account of a person you know, their account may be compromised by a scammer. If you receive messages like this, do not respond and report to the social media platform.   

We’ve seen an increase in scammers impersonating well-known companies to gain access to your personal information and online banking.  

Often the scammer will try to get remote access to your mobile phone or computer to do this.  

You should never allow remote access or download any remote access apps during a call you have not initiated. There is a high risk that you are being scammed. TSB, or any other bank, will never ask you to install remote access on your device.  

If you’re unsure, end contact and call them back on their publicly available number.  

If you think your TSB accounts have been compromised, give us a call immediately. We prioritise fraud calls at our contact centre.  

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is warning New Zealanders to be aware of fake pension loan advertisements circulating on social media targeting people nearing retirement age. The FMA recommends extreme caution when engaging with these advertisements.    

These advertisements are published by accounts claiming to be from businesses offering fast and accessible loan solutions and helping clients reach financial objectives simply and effectively.  

Businesses providing lending services to retail clients are obliged to be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register.  

To check whether the business you are dealing with is registered, use this link: Financial Service Providers Register 

Scammers are impersonating well-known companies to deceive you into handing over money or your personal information.  

Recently, our team has noticed an increase in scammers impersonating NZ telecommunication companies.  

Contact is made via text, email, or cold call, often telling you there is an error with your phone’s account, your home internet, or your SIM card. They will hook you into taking an urgent action, gaining access to your personal information or device to defraud you.  

We’re also seeing an increase in "TSB Fraud Team" impersonation scams, where scammers are calling customers and attempting to gain access to their online banking details by convincing them to give remote access to their computer or phone. In some cases, scammers are convincing customers to divulge their log in details, card details, or authentication codes. 

Protect yourself:  

• Be wary of cold calls and anyone pressuring you to take urgent action. If you’re unsure, hang up and call them back on their publicly available number.
• Treat every unknown text as a possible scam. If you’re unsure, never follow links or engage with the sender.
• Never give anyone your login details, share authentication codes, or allow access for remote access to your devices. These are major red flags.  

If you think your TSB accounts have been compromised, give us a call immediately. We prioritise fraud calls at our contact centre. 

The Funeral Directors Association is warning of a rise in livestream scams targeting high-profile and community funerals. 

Scammers will create fake pages on social media, asking people for money to view the livestreams . Netsafe has reported a 34% increase in public livestream scams this year.  

The Funeral Directors Association says livestreams are paid for by the family and organised by the funeral home. A livestream from a reputable funeral home would never ask viewers for donations to watch the livestream.  

If you’re unsure, you should contact the family or the funeral home to check if the livestream link is legitimate.  

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) is warning New Zealanders to beware of scams using fake endorsements supposedly coming from New Zealand politicians. Their names and images are being faked and misused to promote online investment schemes.  

This scam uses fake news stories, spread through multiple websites and advertisements, with the names of investment schemes and websites used to promote the scam changing frequently. 

In October 2024, the scam featured fake news articles featuring claims that New Zealanders will receive “income” or “dividend” payments from Inland Revenue (IRD). The fake claims say that money will be sent to New Zealanders after they sign up with an online investment platform.  

The IRD has confirmed these claims are false. There is no pool of tax funds becoming available for distribution to New Zealanders. 

You can read more about this scam on the FMA website.  

What to do: 

The FMA recommends extreme caution when engaging with social media advertisements or links in news aggregators that include fake political endorsements promoting investment opportunities. 

Do not click on these ads or links, and do not enter your personal information into these websites. 

If you have been contacted by a scammer after entering your personal information into one of these websites, do not make any payments or transfer any money to the scammers.  

Source: FMA 

Phishing email scams will target customers at random, often asking the recipient to complete an action via a link in the email. These emails use TSB branding to make them appear genuine.  

Below are some examples of real-life scams that have targeted TSB customers in the past. Remember, we’ll never ask you to enter the login details for your account, remote access to your devices, or your credit card details. 

TSB email scam example – confirm account and card details 

We’re aware of a TSB branded phishing email scam prompting recipients to confirm their account and card details. 

Users will be taken through several screens asking for confirmation of their account details and card numbers. The scammers will use these details to make fraudulent payments. They will then ask recipients to provide a confirmation SMS code to authorise these payments. 

This is a scam, and you should not engage with the sender. If you think you have provided your account or card details, please call us immediately 0800 872 226. 

TSB email scam example – restore access to your account (existing content) 

We have received reports of a TSB branded email scam targeting customers.  

The email tells the recipient that they need to restore full access to their account by clicking a link. This takes the recipient to a website that looks like TSB’s Online Banking portal. It then prompts the user to enter their online banking login details, credit or debit card details, and a SMS code to ‘make sure you are the account owner.’ The scammers will use these details to make fraudulent payments.   

This is a scam, and you should not engage with the sender. If you think you have provided your account or card details, please call us immediately on 0800 872 226. 

We are aware of scammers targeting customers with a fake TSB phone number and pressuring them to provide codes sent to their phone. 

These codes are needed to authorise payments, known as two-factor authentication (2FA). Scammers are using these codes to make fraudulent payments. 

TSB will never ask you to provide these codes, and you should never provide them to anyone. We will also never ask you to provide your login details for online banking or the app, or for remote access to your device.   

If you are ever unsure that a call from TSB is legitimate, hang up and call us back on 0800 872 226. You are not obligated to answer any questions or stay on the phone if you don’t feel comfortable doing so.  

Scammers contact you unexpectedly through WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook pretending to be a family member or friend in urgent need of help. They often claim their phone is lost or damaged and ask for money or gift cards. They may avoid calls and communicate only by text or direct message, making excuses for why they can’t speak.

Tip: Verify the person’s identity by calling them on their usual number or asking a question only they would know.

Older people are at higher risk of financial abuse. This can involve scammers stealing money or property, pressuring them to hand over funds or persuading them to sell assets for someone else’s gain. Sometimes the abuser is a family member or caregiver, making it harder to detect.

Tip: Encourage regular financial reviews with a trusted advisor and set up alerts for unusual transactions.

Fraudsters send emails that look like they’re from your bank or a trusted company. They often include urgent messages and links to fake websites where you’re asked to enter login details. Even just clicking the link could activate a virus.

Tip: Never click links or open attachments from unexpected emails. Type the company’s official website address directly into your browser or call them using a verified number. 

If you've received a phishing or suspicious email related to TSB, forward a copy or screenshot to us at report@tsb.co.nz. 

This happens when someone you trust – such as a child, sibling, or friend – uses your card or account without permission. It might start with small purchases but can escalate to significant financial loss.

Tip: Keep your cards and account details secure. Set up transaction alerts and regularly review statements to catch unauthorised activity early.

Scammers steal your personal details (like name, date of birth or ID numbers) to open accounts, apply for loans or access your bank account. They may get this information through phishing, data breaches or stolen mail.

Tip: Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication. Shred sensitive documents before disposal and regularly monitor your credit report.

These scams promise high returns with little risk. Scammers pose as brokers or financial advisors, often contacting you via cold calls, social media or fake ads. They may use professional-looking websites and documents to appear legitimate. Common targets include cryptocurrency, clean energy bonds, and term deposits.  

Tip: Check if the advisor or company is registered with a financial authority. Never invest based on unsolicited offers or pressure tactics. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 

Fraudsters call pretending to be from your bank, a government agency or a trusted company. They use urgency and fear to pressure you into sharing personal details or making payments.  

Tip: Hang up immediately and call the organisation back using their publicly listed number. Don’t share personal or banking details over the phone unless you initiated the call. 

After you’ve lost money to a scam, criminals may contact you claiming they can recover the lost funds – for a fee. This scam is designed to exploit victims twice.

Tip: Legitimate recovery services won’t ask for upfront payments. Report the scam to your bank and local authorities instead of paying anyone who promises to recover your money.

Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites or social media. They build emotional connections quickly, then ask for money, gifts or personal details. They often claim to be overseas or in a difficult situation to justify the request.  

Tip: Never send money or share financial details with someone you haven’t met in person. Be cautious of anyone who avoids video calls or meeting in person.

Social media scams can include phishing for login details, impersonation scams, investment scams, fake job offers and fake giveaways and marketplaces. Scammers commonly use social media platforms to gain trust and steal money.

Tip: Be suspicious of unexpected friend requests or messages. Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources and review the privacy settings on your accounts. 

Messages claim you need to pay a toll, update your bank account or track a delivery. They include links to fake websites designed to steal your details or install malware.

Tip: Do not click links or respond to suspicious texts. Verify directly with the business using their publicly available contact details. Forward scam texts to the Department of Internal Affairs at 7726.