Cybercrime

Cybercrime can mean someone has gained access to your online account, device, or personal information without your permission. It can also mean someone has used technology to steal money, scam, threaten, bully, share or threaten to share harmful online content about you.

This can include:

• hacked accounts or devices. When someone accesses your email, social media, banking, or another online account without your consent, or installs malware or ransomware affecting your device.
• scams and fraud such as phishing, fake invoices, romance scams, social media scams, or other online tricks used to get money or personal details
• identity theft -when someone uses your personal information to pretend to be you
• threats, bullying, or abuse online
• threats to share, or sharing private material including intimate images, recordings or videos without your consent.

If someone is in immediate danger, or a crime is happening now, you can call the Police on 111. If it is not an immediate emergency, you can still report cybercrime, fraud, scams, abuse, or harassment to New Zealand Police using 105 online(external link) or by phone.

For more information about cybercrime, visit the Police website(external link).

If the harm involves online abuse, bullying, threats, or private images, Netsafe can help.

You can choose to contact Netsafe in a way that suits you:

• forms to report online harm to Netsafe(external link)
• email: help@netsafe.org.nz
• freephone: 0508 638 723
• text: ‘Netsafe’ to 4282.

Netsafe can help investigate and resolve online harm. They can also help support a court application to the District Court for a Harmful Digital Communications Order.

Find out more about getting legal protection under the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015.

If you have been affected by an online incident, or targeted by a scammer, Own Your Online can help with:

• hacked accounts or suspicious access to your device or online accounts
• scams, stolen money, and compromised card or banking details
• malware, ransomware, and other online security incidents
• data breaches and exposed personal information.

You can report these to Own Your Online. They can also help you identify a scam. For more information, visit Get help now - Own Your Online(external link).

If your personal information has been stolen, IDCARE can help you understand what has happened and what to do next. A case manager can work with you to create a clear, step-by-step recovery plan.

This can include help to protect your credit file, contact banks, government agencies, and phone companies, cancel lost or stolen documents, and secure your email and devices after a cyber incident.

IDCARE provides a free service. You can find out more or contact IDCARE here:

• get help from IDCARE online(external link)
• New Zealand freephone: 0800 121 068.