NZ Police Warn of Sophisticated Crypto Scam Targeting Digital Asset Holders

Police in New Zealand are warning citizens about a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam that has resulted in millions of dollars lost by victims. The scammers pose as police officers or representatives from cryptocurrency companies to gain access to victims' digital assets.

The scam typically begins with a caller claiming to be a police detective, who asks questions to establish if and how the victim holds cryptocurrency. A second scammer then poses as a representative from the cryptocurrency company, convincing the victim to provide passwords or seed phrases through fake webpages that resemble legitimate platforms.

Police are urging anyone who owns cryptocurrency to keep their account information private and never share sensitive details with people they don't know. They also remind the public that New Zealand Police will never ask for sensitive financial details and encourage victims to report any suspicious activity immediately.