Central Otago locals are reporting email scams pretending to be Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), which request the receiver renew their vehicle registration.

Kate Guttery posted on the Facebook page, “Central Otago in General” to share the “phishing scam” email she received, which posed as the NZTA.

“Just received this email. Looks legit but it’s definitely not. Don’t be fooled,” she posted. 

Central Otago resident Kate Guttery shared the screenshot of a phishing scam email, which posed as Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), to warn others not to fall for the trap. Image courtesy Kate Guttery/Facebook.

This year has seen a number of scams make local headlines, most notably with the local Blossom Festival committee being attacked multiple times. 

Blossom Festival organiser and local councillor Martin McPherson email account was attacked aggressively by a virus which took some time to eradicate. 

With reports of ‘phishing scam’ emails targeting vehicle owners continuing to circulate in New Zealand, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is urging people to be on the lookout for widely distributed 'phishing scam' e-mails which direct recipients to a counterfeit website to renew their vehicle licence (rego).

“A phishing scam is an email, call or text from someone pretending to be us,” an NZTA spokesperson told The Central App.

“They’ll (the scammers) try to get your personal information (like your driver licence number or credit card details). 

“They may also try to trick you into paying for something that seems legitimate, like your vehicle licence (rego), or a trip on a toll road.”

At first glance these e-mails or texts may appear to be legitimate, so Waka Kotahi has provided  tips to help you spot and report a phishing scam, as well as advice on what to do if you’ve received something suspicious or if you think you’ve provided your personal details to a scammer.

 Advertisement

While the phishing emails have been circulating for more than a year, Waka Kotahi says scammers are likely to try to capitalise on the upcoming holiday break to catch people off-guard during the business of Christmas and New Year.

These phishing emails are not from Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency. They are part of an ongoing phishing scam which leads people to a counterfeit website. If you receive one of these messages you should delete it immediately.

Since Waka Kotahi first issued warnings about a similar phishing scam in late 2019, several  new versions of the original phishing e-mail have appeared. 

Waka Kotahi is working with Police, CERT NZ and Netsafe to combat the scammers, but they are persistent, and no sooner is one phony website taken down than another appears.

Knowing what to look out for, and how to protect yourself is the first line of defence.

A genuine vehicle registration reminder email sent from the Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency will include your specific vehicle details (eg your plate number, vehicle make and the licence expiry date on the rego label on your vehicle).

If you receive an email that doesn’t include your specific vehicle details, or you think there’s anything suspicious or incorrect, do not complete the online renewal transaction the email links you to. 

“If you think you’ve received a scam email, or you’re unsure about anything, please email us at [email protected],” the spokesperson said.

“If you’ve received any communication from us that you think is suspicious, please let us know immediately. You can use this link: Report a phishing scam form

“We can confirm if it’s legitimate or a scam. The sooner we know about it, the faster we can act to protect you and everyone else.”

For more information https://www.nzta.govt.nz/online-services/report-a-phishing-scam/