New Zealand Scam & Fraud Statistics
New Zealand's CERT NZ recorded approximately NZD $25.7 million in direct cybercrime losses in 2024 — the highest annual total since records began in 2017, and still the latest full-year figure.
Last reviewed: 7 July 2026
New Zealand's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which incorporates CERT NZ, publishes quarterly cyber security insights that track reported scam and fraud incidents. The most recent full-year total is approximately NZD $25.7 million in direct reported losses for 2024, the highest annual figure on record, shown here alongside 2025 regional and global benchmarks from Australia and the United States.\n\nThe figures cover incidents reported directly to CERT NZ and represent only confirmed, voluntarily reported losses. All New Zealand dollar amounts are NZD, and the Australian and US comparison figures are stated in their own currencies. Broader industry estimates from organisations such as Netsafe and the Global Anti-Scam Alliance suggest losses well above official CERT NZ figures once unreported incidents are included.
Key figures
Americans reported $20.877 billion in losses across 1,008,597 complaints in 2025
Global context — FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center total losses
Source: FBI IC3 2025 Internet Crime Report (2025)
$2.18 billion in combined reported losses across Australia in 2025, an increase of 7.8% on 2024
Regional context (Oceania) — Australia's combined scam losses in 2025
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2025 (ACCC) (2025)
$837.7 million lost to investment scams in Australia in 2025
Regional context (Oceania) — investment scams, Australia's largest loss category in 2025
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2025 (ACCC) (2025)
481,523 scam reports across Australia in 2025, a decrease of 2.3%
Regional context (Oceania) — total scam reports across Australia in 2025
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2025 (ACCC) (2025)
Approximately NZD $25.7 million
Total reported cybercrime losses to CERT NZ across all four quarters of 2024
Source: CERT NZ Quarterly Cyber Security Insights (Q1–Q4 2024) (2024)
NZD $6.8 million (up 24% from Q3 2024)
Reported cybercrime losses in Q4 2024
Source: CERT NZ Quarter Four Cyber Security Insights 2024 (2024)
36% (434 of 1,203 incidents)
Scams and fraud as a share of all incidents reported to CERT NZ in Q2 2024
Source: CERT NZ Quarter Two Cyber Security Insights 2024 (2024)
AUD $2.03 billion combined reported losses across Australia in 2024, a 25.9% decrease from 2023
Regional context (Oceania) — Australia's combined scam losses in 2024
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2024 (ACCC) (2024)
AUD $945.0 million lost to investment scams in Australia in 2024
Regional context (Oceania) — investment scams, Australia's largest loss category
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2024 (ACCC) (2024)
494,732 scam reports across Australia in 2024, down from 601,803 in 2023
Regional context (Oceania) — total scam reports across Australia in 2024
Source: National Anti-Scam Centre 'Targeting Scams' Report 2024 (ACCC) (2024)
Key takeaways
- CERT NZ's 2024 total of roughly NZD $25.7 million is the highest annual direct-loss figure recorded since the agency started collecting data in 2017.
- A small number of high-value incidents drive a disproportionate share of losses — in Q4 2024, just 17 reports of over NZD $100,000 accounted for NZD $4.7 million of the quarter's total.
- Reported CERT NZ figures are a significant undercount; industry estimates place total scam losses in New Zealand at over NZD $194 million for the year to September 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much did New Zealanders lose to cybercrime in 2024?
CERT NZ quarterly reports show approximately NZD $25.7 million in direct reported losses across 2024 — the highest annual total on record. Broader industry studies suggest the true total is far higher.
How do I report a scam in New Zealand?
Report cybercrime and scams to CERT NZ at cert.govt.nz or by calling 0800 CERT NZ (0800 2378 69). You can also report to the New Zealand Police.