Westpac NZ urges caution among jobseekers to avoid falling victim
Reported job scams in New Zealand have increased by 50% as scammers take advantage of desperate jobseekers amid the rising unemployment rate.
Westpac NZ's crime data revealed that reported job scams in the six months to the end of August were up 50% compared to the same period in 2024.
"From January to the end of August this year, we know of 110 customers who were scammed out of an average of $1,685 that they could ill afford," said Jessica Channing, Westpac NZ Fraud and Scams Intelligence Manager, in a statement.
One victim from Dunedin lost almost $7,000 from this job scam, according to Westpac NZ.
The victim shared that the advertised position was for a customer service online accommodation review role.
She noted that it seemed legitimate at first, but she later received "recharge" requests that required her to create and top up a cryptocurrency wallet to retain access to the review platform used for the work.
"I got six 'recharge' screens on one day for bigger amounts each time and paid some, then asked them if I could get it back. They didn't have much to say but when I worked out how to get into the wallet it was gone," she said.
Channing warned that these job scams not only put victims' finances at risk, but also their identity.
"But the risk of job scams is not just financial loss, but identity theft when victims hand over personal details and documents because they think it is a legitimate job opportunity, which enables the scammers to commit further fraud against them," she said.
Risks amid high unemployment
Channing said they expect these kinds of scams to continue as long as competition for jobs remains high.
New Zealand's unemployment rate has risen to 5.2% as of the June quarter of 2025, Stats NZ data revealed.
Applications per job ad also continue to rise, according to SEEK NZ data, indicating that candidate activity remains elevated.
"When jobs are harder to come by, it's totally understandable that some people take risks in the application process that they might not normally take," Channing said.
"It always pays to take a step back and ensure the job you're applying for is legitimate. Be wary of any online ad that involves you paying to secure an interview, or an enticing offer that comes out of the blue on social media, by text or through a messaging app."
She urged jobseekers to do research on the business, as well as the person or recruiter who approached them with an opportunity.
"A good mantra to keep in mind is that if an opportunity seems too good to be true, unfortunately it probably is," Channing said.
