Auckland (Avneet Kaur) – Immigration New Zealand has issued a fresh warning after a rise in scam phone calls where fraudsters are pretending to be immigration officials to target people living in New Zealand.
According to INZ, scammers are calling people while falsely claiming to represent Immigration New Zealand. Officials say some callers are even using New Zealand mobile numbers so the calls appear genuine and people are more likely to trust them.
The callers often tell people there is an urgent issue with their visa or immigration status in an attempt to create fear and pressure. In some cases, people have been asked to “Press 1” to speak with an operator or immigration officer. Authorities say the scammers may ask for money, passport details, banking information or other personal data. Some callers have also threatened legal action or deportation if the person refuses to cooperate.
INZ has clarified that it never asks for payments over the phone and urged the public not to engage with suspicious callers. The agency has advised people not to share any personal or financial information, to immediately hang up on suspicious calls, and to report such incidents to CERT NZ through its online reporting form. People living in New Zealand can also contact Netsafe on 0508 638 723 for support and guidance.
INZ said anyone who becomes concerned about their visa status after receiving a suspicious call should directly contact the official INZ Service Centre, where staff can verify information and provide correct advice regarding visa matters.
Officials say migrant and international communities are increasingly being targeted through phone and online scams, and people are being urged to remain cautious when receiving unexpected calls related to immigration or government agencies.
