TL;DR: Netsafe reported tax refund scam cases in New Zealand jumped 44% in May 2026 compared to April, with scammers impersonating Inland Revenue (IRD) — and in some cases Police — to trick people into handing over banking and personal information. These scams cluster around real tax-calendar dates, which is exactly what makes them feel timely and legitimate.

👉 Check what's already exposed about you — free scan →

Netsafe's June 2026 warning highlights a pattern that spikes predictably around key dates in New Zealand's tax calendar — particularly May through July, when many people are genuinely expecting a refund, and again around the end of the financial year in March and April. Scammers time their messages to land exactly when a real refund notification would be plausible.

The two main variants

Why this scam is harder to catch than it sounds

Netsafe's Digital Harm Services Manager Alex Yi notes these scams can be particularly difficult to identify because victims often don't realize they've been targeted until weeks or months later — either the expected refund never arrives, or the victim discovers their personal information has since been misused elsewhere. The delay between the scam and its discovery gives criminals an extended window to exploit whatever sensitive information was handed over.

What's genuinely at stake beyond the immediate financial loss

Yi points out that while financial losses are concerning on their own, the greater long-term risk is often the personal information victims willingly provide — once scammers have identity details, the impact can extend well past any single refund-related transaction, feeding into further identity fraud down the line.

How to verify a genuine IRD contact

If you've responded to one of these messages

Contact your bank immediately if banking details were shared. Report the scam to Netsafe (netsafe.org.nz) or forward suspicious emails to me@rescam.org, Netsafe's AI-powered scam-intelligence tool. Given the delayed-discovery risk Yi describes, it's also worth checking your broader digital exposure rather than assuming the incident is contained — Netsafe has separately flagged rising sextortion scams as another current New Zealand trend.

FAQs

Does IRD ever ask for banking details by text message?

No — genuine IRD communications about refunds or debts should be verified directly through your myIR account, never by responding to a link or providing details through an unsolicited text or email.

Why do tax refund scams spike at specific times of year?

Scammers time their messages around real dates in New Zealand's tax calendar — particularly May to July and the end of the financial year — when a message about a refund or debt feels naturally plausible to recipients.

What's the risk beyond just losing money to this scam?

Netsafe specifically warns that the personal information handed over during these scams can be misused well beyond the initial incident, feeding into further identity fraud — which is often the more lasting harm.

Curious what's already out there? Scan My Shadow checks a phone number and email across 1,500+ sources and sends a clear report — no guesswork, just facts. Start your scan.

Related Reading