The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has issued a warning to the public about text message scams impersonating their organization. They emphasize
The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has issued a warning to the public about text message scams impersonating their organization. They emphasize that they do not send out text message reminders for tolls, vehicle registrations (regos), or license renewals, making any such messages claiming to be from them fraudulent.
There are several ways to identify these scam texts. Firstly, they are often sent from non-New Zealand numbers, such as those starting with +61 for Australia or other overseas numbers. Additionally, the texts contain suspicious links that do not direct to the official NZTA website (nzta.govt.nz).
To address the increasing prevalence of text message scams, NZTA advises individuals who have received scam texts or provided personal information to visit their website for guidance on what steps to take. The website (https://www.nzta.govt.nz/phishing-scams/) provides information on how to deal with scam texts and handle compromised personal details.
The NZTA also highlights that scams are not limited to their organization alone, as there are other fraudulent messages pretending to be from entities like the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), New Zealand Post, and the Automobile Association (AA). To learn more about identifying scams and taking appropriate action, the public is encouraged to visit CERT NZ’s informative page on text message scams (https://www.cert.govt.nz/text-message-scams/).
It is important for individuals to remain vigilant and exercise caution when receiving text messages, verifying the authenticity of the sender before taking any action or sharing personal information.
