The scammers are approaching individuals by email or phone, and in communications are using a logo that is a copy of or similar to the Finance New Zealand logo, and they list our physical address on their communications. The scammers are identifying themselves as Bank Finance Limited New Zealand and may include the name Northern Trust. Finance New Zealand Limited is unrelated to this group, and that name is not a registered company in New Zealand as at the time of this article.

We currently understand their method is to advise they have funds held in an investment account, typically located overseas. They request you pay a fee to them by either bank transfer or Bitcoin, and promise that after payment of the fee they can organise transfer of those funds to you. Victims of this scam have reported that on payment of that fee, all communication from this group ceases. Any contact numbers provided get disconnected and there is no further response via email.

Finance New Zealand Limited does not hold investment funds and will never contact customers in this manner.

CERT NZ is a government organisation that works with those affected (or may be affected) by cyber security incidents. If you receive communication claiming to be from the entities above, the following link to the CERT NZ government website can help you identify it and let you know what the next steps are to resolve it.

If you have fallen victim to this scam, we encourage you to report it here.