Think before you click, it might be a scam
Tuesday, 1 July 2025
We’ve all done it right? Been distracted by something and clicked on something on our phone.
And nearly a quarter of us - 24% - confess to clicking through to a “great deal” without checking if the link was legitimate while 19% have hit a link in a text before reading it properly.
A nationwide survey by BNZ shows we aren’t shy about where we are either - everywhere from the boardroom to the bathroom - we’re responding to notifications and messages, our phone firmly fixed to our hands.
The nationwide study found most Kiwis had responded to an email, text or notification while doing something else, with 35% admitting they’ve done so in the bathroom, 41% in the middle of a face-to-face conversation, and 28% while in a meeting or webinar.
“And when we’re rushed or distracted like this, we make mistakes,” said BNZ head of fraud operations Margaret Miller.
She said scammers prey on the fact that when we are rushed, distracted or juggling multiple things we’re more likely to click first and think later.
The study found New Zealanders were generally aware of when they’re most vulnerable, with 78% recognising being distracted, rushed, multitasking, stressed or on autopilot makes them more likely to be scammed or make a mistake with online banking.
Miller said even so, scammers were still succeeding.
According to the survey, while 61% of Kiwis spotted a scam in the past year and avoided it, 12% weren’t so lucky.
Netsafe said $17.8m was lost to scams last year.
The most common were courier scams which say you have won a prize or that you need to pay something to get your parcel, Facebook Marketplace where you might be buying something that does not exist or being told you have won a competition you did not enter.
Mostly the message is slow down. Miller said BNZ was also exploring a different approach through strategic design features that work with how people actually behave.
BNZ head of design Donal Devlin said they had learned introducing small elements of frictions at critical moments helped with focus and kept customers and their money safer.
And while it’s irritating when a website changes something, things like swapping button locations, adding pause notifications or showing “pause and think” alerts helped customers focus.
Netsafe deputy chief executive officer Andrea Leask said one of the most common tactics scammers used was creating a false sense of urgency. Scammers often pressured you to act quickly to avoid a negative outcome or to seize a supposed opportunity.
“Whether it's a phishing email claiming your account will be closed unless you click immediately, or a phone call insisting you must transfer money right now to avoid consequences, these pressure tactics are designed to bypass your natural caution. When scammers create time pressure, they're counting on you making decisions before you have time to think clearly, verify the information or seek advice from others.”
Banks, government agencies, and reputable businesses will give you reasonable time to respond to genuine requests, she said.
“If someone is urging you to act fast, slow down and consider the situation carefully. Take a moment to pause, verify independently and don't let anyone rush you into clicking, calling, or paying anything before you're absolutely certain the request is legitimate.”
And put the phone down when you go to the loo.