ISSUE
Friday, May 15, 2026
Volume 17 . Issue 19
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has warned the public about a recent scam involving callers pretending to be immigration officials using New Zealand mobile numbers.
According to INZ, the calls are fraudulent and often attempt to pressure visa holders by claiming there is an urgent issue with their immigration status.
The agency said scammers may ask recipients to “press 1” to speak with an operator, while others have reportedly demanded payments, requested personal information such as passport and bank details, or threatened legal consequences if instructions are not followed.
INZ has stressed that it does not contact people by phone to request payments.
Officials are urging anyone who receives a suspicious call not to share any financial or personal information and to end the call immediately.
People are also encouraged to report the incident to CERT NZ through its online reporting platform. Those in New Zealand can additionally seek advice or support from Netsafe by calling 0508 638 723.
INZ said visa holders who are concerned about the legitimacy of a call or want to verify their visa status can contact the INZ Service Centre directly for assistance.
Learn more about how to protect yourself from scams and fraud:
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has warned the public about a recent scam involving callers pretending to be immigration officials using New Zealand mobile numbers.
According to INZ, the calls are fraudulent and often attempt to pressure visa holders by claiming there is an urgent issue with their...
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has warned the public about a recent scam involving callers pretending to be immigration officials using New Zealand mobile numbers.
According to INZ, the calls are fraudulent and often attempt to pressure visa holders by claiming there is an urgent issue with their immigration status.
The agency said scammers may ask recipients to “press 1” to speak with an operator, while others have reportedly demanded payments, requested personal information such as passport and bank details, or threatened legal consequences if instructions are not followed.
INZ has stressed that it does not contact people by phone to request payments.
Officials are urging anyone who receives a suspicious call not to share any financial or personal information and to end the call immediately.
People are also encouraged to report the incident to CERT NZ through its online reporting platform. Those in New Zealand can additionally seek advice or support from Netsafe by calling 0508 638 723.
INZ said visa holders who are concerned about the legitimacy of a call or want to verify their visa status can contact the INZ Service Centre directly for assistance.
Learn more about how to protect yourself from scams and fraud:
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