New Zealand warns immigrants of rise in visa scam phone calls

New Zealand has warned the public about an increase in phone scams targeting residents and visa holders. Scammers are calling from New Zealand mobile numbers while pretending to be Immigration New Zealand officials.

“These calls are not genuine. Immigration New Zealand will never contact you by phone asking for payments,” the agency said.

The fraudsters often try to create a sense of urgency, claiming there is a problem with the recipient’s visa. Callers may ask people to “press 1” or speak to an operator. In some cases, they have demanded payments, requested personal information such as passport or bank details, or threatened legal action.


INZ advised recipients not to engage with such calls.

“Do not provide any personal or financial information and hang up immediately,” the agency said.

People who receive suspicious calls are urged to report them to CERT NZ using their online reporting form.

Those in New Zealand can also contact Netsafe at 0508 638 723. Visa holders who want to verify their status can reach out to the INZ Service Centre, which can confirm visa details and answer questions.

Scams like these are part of a wider trend of fraud targeting immigrants and visa applicants. INZ has also provided guidance on protecting personal information online and avoiding scams.