Need a hand?

"I got an email from a lawyer in another country saying a distant cousin had passed away and left me NZD 50,000. It sounded so real. He sent legal documents and said I just needed to pay NZD 450 for a Certificate of Ownership."

"I paid it, but then he said the account needed another NZD 800 for clearance. That’s when I realized the NZD 50,000 was never coming and I’d just been throwing my own money away."

This situation involves a form of fraud where you are led to believe that a significant, life-changing windfall is waiting for you. You may receive an unexpected email, letter, or a phone call from someone posing as a lawyer, a government official, or a representative from a lottery board.

You are advised you have won a sweepstake, you are the beneficiary of a distant relative’s vast estate, or you have been approved for a loan or high-paying job. The goal is to trigger a state of intense optimism, making you focus on the potential payout rather than the logic of the situation.

The scammer claims a reward is ready but requires small, up-front fees. After the first payment, they invent new problems requiring larger payments. This trap drives victims to keep paying, hoping the next fee will unlock the prize. The cycle continues until you stop or run out of money.

• No legitimate windfall requires upfront payment: If you are asked to pay a fee to receive a prize, loan, inheritance, or sweepstakes winnings that you did not explicitly apply for, it is a scam. Legitimate organizations deduct fees from the winnings, if necessary
• Be skeptical of unexpected miracles: If a financial opportunity arrives entirely unsolicited and promises immense wealth for no effort, treat it as a definitive trap
• Be wary of secrecy: Scammers often insist the offer is confidential and demand you do not tell anyone. This is a tactic to isolate you from trusted advisors who would spot the fraud

• Research the offer and sender: Use a search engine to look up the name of the lottery, law firm, or organization making the offer, along with the word scam. If it is a known scheme, results will appear immediately
• Examine communication quality: Check the email address for typos, incorrect grammar, or a generic sender. Professional institutions use official domain names
• Consult a trusted third party: Before making any payments speak to a friend, a family member, or a professional advisor. Scammers rely on the 'tunnel vision' caused by excitement. An outside perspective is the fastest way to break the psychological hold of the scam and see the red flags