The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority has urged investors to verify online investment claims and resist pressure to act quickly, warning that scams increasingly use artificial intelligence generated deepfakes, fake celebrity endorsements and social media investment groups. Information from online investing platforms indicates that New Zealand investors have lost about NZD 25 million since June 2025 through a high profile pump and dump scheme previously flagged by the regulator. Recent reports include individual losses ranging from NZD 24,000 to NZD 120,000 after victims followed chat group advice, responded to online advertisements or paid supposed taxes and fees to recover funds. As part of World Investor Week 2026, the authority is running an educational social media campaign focused on real world scenarios and warning signs, advising investors to pause, verify information and understand both the investment and the party offering it before transferring money.
New Zealand Financial Markets Authority warns of sophisticated scams after investors lose about NZD 25 million in pump and dump scheme
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority has warned investors about increasingly sophisticated online scams involving deepfakes, fake endorsements and social media investment groups. Investing platforms indicate that New Zealanders have lost about NZD 25 million since June 2025 through a pump and dump scheme previously flagged by the regulator.