Another phishing scam is making its way around the Hibiscus Coast - and this reporter was nearly caught!

While visiting a friend in Tauranga over the Easter weekend - where two of the three tolls are - I received a text message from the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) saying I need to pay the toll, or I’ll get a fine.

As a law-abiding citizen, my finger hovered over the attached link and I read the message out to Hubby while reaching for my bank card (we were discussing loading the NZTA account before leaving Auckland so I had an I Told You So tone…). 

He yelled from the other side of the house: “Do not click on the link. It’s a scam!”

“How can it be a scam?” I asked, rolling my eyes. “We are in the area where there are two tolls.”

But Hubby was right, and if it wasn’t for him yelling, I would have fallen victim to a phishing scam as the text message really looked legit, albeit it had a +61 international number.

Back on Auckland shores, I contacted NZTA and they said there are thousands of people who have been scammed with text messages, or emails. 

While writing this article, another text message came through saying I have unpaid fines!

“The +61 Australian text message tells you that you are liable to pay a fine if you do not renew your driver's licence, vehicle registration (rego) or, like in your case, an overdue fine,” said the spokesperson.

Like Hubby, NZTA is appealing to people not to click on the link as they DO NOT send text messages to people!

”We send emails out and when we do, we include your details and most importantly, your car’s details.”

NZTA will only send emails out if you contact them first, or if you’ve signed up to receive notifications and reminders from them. 

Genuine emails come from @nzta.govt.nz, @enews.nzta.govt.nz or @reply.nzta.govt.nz.

Examples for the scammed emails are nzta.co.nz, nzta.gov.nz, nzta.qovt.nz, nzta.nz, nzta.com

Besides them not sending text messages out, NZTA says you can tell it is not a genuine message from them if the link looks suspicious; the email, phone call or text may be threatening; and they didn’t include specific details (like your car’s details).