Scams and Their Impact on Our Community

🛡️Staying Safe Online 🔐

Online scams continue to affect individuals, whānau, and community organisations across Mid Canterbury. From text messages pretending to be courier companies to phone calls claiming to be from banks or government agencies, scammers are becoming more convincing and harder to spot. The impact goes beyond financial loss; scams can affect people’s confidence, well-being, and trust in technology.

Why Scams Matter to Our Community

Scams don’t discriminate. Rangatahi, parents, kaumātua, new migrants, and small businesses have all been targeted. In community settings, we’ve seen people feel whakamā (embarrassed) or reluctant to talk about what happened, which can prevent others from learning and staying safe. By sharing knowledge and talking openly, we can protect ourselves and each other.

Common Scam Types We’re Seeing

Some of the most common scams currently affecting our community include:

• Text message scams claiming to be from NZ Post, courier services, banks, or toll roads, asking you to click a link

• Phone scams pretending to be from banks, IRD, or “technical support” warning of urgent problems

• Email scams with fake invoices, prize wins, or requests to “verify” your account

• Social media scams, including fake profiles, marketplace scams, and messages from “friends” asking for money

• Investment and cryptocurrency scams promising quick or guaranteed returns

These scams often create urgency or fear, pushing people to act quickly without checking.

Quick Tips to Protect Yourself

• Pause and think before responding to unexpected messages.

• Verify requests through official channels, not the message itself.

• Don’t click on links or download attachments from unknown sources.

• Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

• Share what you learn with whānau and friends, knowledge is protection!

Supporting Each Other

Talking about scams helps reduce stigma and builds community resilience. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Sharing experiences, attending workshops, and learning together help strengthen digital confidence and wellbeing across Mid Canterbury.

If you or someone you know has been affected by a scam, support is available. You can report scams and find trusted advice through official channels or reach out to local community organisations offering digital safety support.

Together, by staying informed, connected, and aware, we can create a safer digital environment for everyone in our community.

#digitalwaitaha #digitalwellbeing #digitalsafety #OnlineSecurity #PasswordProtection #PINs #CyberSafety

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