New Zealand’s immigration authorities have warned visa holders and migrants about a rise in scam phone calls from fraudsters pretending to represent Immigration New Zealand (INZ).
In an official advisory issued on May 8, Immigration New Zealand said scammers are using New Zealand mobile numbers and falsely claiming there are urgent problems with visas to pressure people into making payments or sharing personal information.
According to the advisory, callers have asked people to “press 1” or speak with an operator, while some have demanded money, passport details, bank information or threatened legal action.
“Immigration New Zealand will never contact you by phone asking for payments,” the agency said.
Authorities warn not to share personal information
Immigration New Zealand urged people receiving suspicious calls not to provide financial or personal details and to end the call immediately.
The agency also advised victims to report such scams to CERT NZ through its online reporting system. People in New Zealand can also seek support through Netsafe.
Officials said visa holders who are worried about their immigration status after receiving scam calls can directly contact the INZ Service Centre to verify their visa details.
The warning comes amid growing concerns globally over immigration-related fraud targeting migrants, international students and temporary visa holders through fake calls, emails and messages designed to create panic and extract money or sensitive information.
