Task Scams in New Zealand
How task-based job scams recruit New Zealanders via WhatsApp and Telegram, then demand cryptocurrency deposits to unlock commission payouts.
Part of: Task Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Task scams have become one of the fastest-growing fraud types in New Zealand, with Netsafe and the FMA both documenting significant increases in reports. The scams arrive via WhatsApp messages or LinkedIn contacts, offering simple remote work at hourly rates above New Zealand minimum wage.
New Zealand's small labour market and high cost of living make the promise of easy supplemental income particularly compelling, and the digital fluency of the target population makes them comfortable using cryptocurrency for deposits — a feature the scammers exploit.
How this scam works on New Zealand
A New Zealand target receives a WhatsApp message or LinkedIn InMail offering work completing online tasks — writing product reviews, boosting app ratings, liking videos. Initial pay seems to arrive reliably, often via bank transfer in New Zealand dollars.
After a few paying tasks, a higher-value task bundle is introduced requiring a cryptocurrency deposit to 'unlock.' The scammer frames this as standard platform procedure. Each completed 'level' generates a new requirement, and the dashboard shows escalating paper profits that can never be withdrawn without paying more.
Some operations specifically recruit through New Zealand job boards and list Christchurch, Auckland, or Wellington addresses to appear local, before directing all payment through overseas crypto channels.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited WhatsApp or Telegram job offer for simple online tasks at above-average pay
- Task employer requiring a cryptocurrency deposit to unlock your first task assignment
- Work dashboard showing profits that require additional payments before withdrawal
- Recruiter listing a New Zealand address that does not match a verifiable business registration
- Job offer arriving from a number with no connection to a verifiable employment company
How to protect yourself
- Verify any job offer through the employer's registered Companies Office listing at companiesoffice.govt.nz
- Legitimate employers never ask workers to pay deposits before starting tasks
- Report unsolicited job offers to Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz
- Check the FMA's warnings list at fma.govt.nz before depositing on any investment or task platform
- Do not make any cryptocurrency purchase to activate a remote job account
How to report it
- Report to Netsafe at netsafe.org.nz or call 0508 NETSAFE
- Report to the FMA at fma.govt.nz/contact
- Report to your local police and file a complaint with the Serious Fraud Office if large sums were lost
Frequently asked questions
How do task scams targeting New Zealanders typically recruit victims?
Unsolicited WhatsApp or Telegram messages offer simple remote tasks with unusually high pay, then escalate by showing a growing dashboard balance that can only be withdrawn after paying a cryptocurrency "deposit" or "unlock fee." Genuine remote work never requires the worker to pay to access their own earnings.
What should I do if I've been asked to send crypto to unlock task earnings in New Zealand?
Don't send any crypto — the "earnings" shown are fabricated and designed to justify further deposits, not real money owed to you. Report the scheme to Netsafe and, if you've already paid, to the police via 105.
Can I recover crypto sent to a New Zealand task scam operation?
Recovery is difficult since crypto transfers are largely irreversible once sent, but report the wallet address and transaction to Netsafe and police regardless, as patterns of reports assist investigations. Whether anything is recoverable may depend on the payment method and timing.
Does New Zealand have a dedicated scam helpline?
Netsafe (netsafe.org.nz) is New Zealand's dedicated online safety organisation and operates a helpline at 0508 NETSAFE. They provide advice and can refer serious cases to police or the FMA. For investment-related task scams, the FMA is the primary regulatory body.