New Zealand Police warn of crypto wallet impersonation scam

New Zealand Police have issued a public warning over a rising cryptocurrency scam in which fraudsters impersonate police officers and representatives of crypto companies to gain access to victims' digital wallets.

According to Police, scammers contact victims claiming their personal information was found during a criminal investigation before asking whether they own cryptocurrency. Victims are then referred to a fake representative from a cryptocurrency platform, who directs them to a fraudulent website designed to steal wallet passwords or seed phrases. Authorities say the scam has already resulted in losses amounting to millions of dollars in recent weeks.

Police stressed that legitimate officers will never request sensitive financial information such as crypto wallet credentials, passwords, PINs or seed phrases during unsolicited phone calls. They also warned that scammers may spoof official police phone numbers and email addresses to appear credible.

To reduce the risk of falling victim, investors are advised to verify unexpected contacts independently, avoid sharing wallet credentials with anyone, and be cautious of requests involving cryptocurrency investigations or urgent account actions. Anyone uncertain about the legitimacy of a caller should end the conversation and contact Police through official channels to verify the officer's identity.

The warning highlights the continued evolution of crypto-related fraud, with criminals increasingly combining social engineering techniques and impersonation tactics to target digital asset holders. Authorities encourage anyone who believes they have been targeted or defrauded to report the incident to New Zealand Police and relevant cybersecurity authorities promptly.