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Westpac NZ is warning New Zealanders about a sophisticated new scam that involves a fake Westpac investment prospectus.
Westpac is warning investors not to fall for a sophisticated scam that involves a fake Westpac investment prospectus.
The bank says crooks have produced a professional-looking fake prospectus in a bid to dupe investors doing internet searches for higher-paying investments.
Carolyn Kidd, Westpac chief risk officer, said the scammers had put “significant effort into making the prospectus look authentic”.
“Would-be investors are encountering this scam when they do internet searches for information about investments and term deposits,” she said.
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“These people are asked to enter personal contact details on the websites which come up in the search results, some of which may purport to help people compare investments,” she said.
“The scammers then email or call the would-be investor using those contact details.”
Kidd said written and verbal communications from the scammers used convincing language and appeared credible.
RNZ
New Zealanders have lost $23 million to scams in the last 18 months, with the majority of victims staying silent about being duped. (Video first published October 2020).
“We have had a handful of reports about the scam so…
