Scammers spoof caller ID and trick victims into forwarding their calls
ASB is warning New Zealanders about a rise in reported impersonation scams, in which fraudsters pose as banks and other trusted brands. Some callers claim to work for ASB’s own fraud team.
In one tactic, customers are asked to key in a number sequence that secretly switches on call forwarding, sending their incoming calls straight to the scammer’s phone.
Independent data points the same way. Netsafe said 34% of August 2026 reports involving a scammer posing as someone else related to a bank or financial institution, up from 20% between April and July. Netsafe cautions that the figures reflect reports made to it, not all scams.
The bank said scammers are using technology to make their calls appear to come from a legitimate organisation, for example by showing a number identical or very close to the real one. Others make contact through apps such as WhatsApp, Google Meet, and iCloud, often using a company logo as their profile picture to look genuine.
ASB head of fraud operations Julie Wilton (pictured) said the calls can be highly convincing, because both the displayed number and the caller’s manner can seem right.
“That’s exactly what scammers are counting on,” she said.
How the scam works
Once a caller has won a victim’s trust, the person may hand over sensitive banking or personal details without realising who they are dealing with.
The call-forwarding request has been presented as a way to stop scam calls
“This is a big red flag,” Wilton said, adding that anyone asked to do this should hang up.
ASB will never ask customers to forward their calls, enter long number sequences to secure an account, share netcodes, allow remote access to a device, or move money to keep it safe.
The financial impact can be severe. Westpac NZ has said bank impersonation scams accounted for 71% of gross scam losses among its business customers in the first half of 2026.
What ASB will and won’t do
“We will never contact customers through an app, unless it’s the ASB Mobile App,” Wilton said.
Her advice is simple: if in doubt, end the call and ring the organisation back on its officially listed number.
“A real organisation won’t mind you checking. A scammer will,” Wilton said.
Anyone who suspects they have been targeted, especially if they have shared any information, should contact their bank as soon as possible. ASB customers can reach the bank’s 24/7 fraud and scam helpline on 0800 ASB FRAUD (0800 272 372), or +64 9 303 0332 from overseas.
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