TL;DR: In November 2025, a fake social media ad used ANZ’s name and logo to offer a stock market education programme, then funnelled people into "investment advice" chat groups on another platform. ANZ doesn’t offer stock trading education; its real ads come from ANZ Aotearoa with a verified blue tick. ANZ says investment scams were about 20% of cases for scammed customers aged 66–74. Once in the group, people are pressured to invest.
What happened
From ANZ’s 20 November 2025 warning:
- A fake ad used ANZ’s name and logo.
- It offered a stock market education programme.
- It directed people to investment advice chat groups on another platform.
- ANZ doesn’t offer stock trading education. Real ANZ ads come from ANZ Aotearoa with a verified blue tick.
- The ads were reported for removal; ANZ and the FMA are monitoring.
The numbers
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Scam websites ANZ blocked in a year | 1,800+ |
| Investment scams among scammed customers aged 66–74 | ~20% (second only to cold calls) |
| Investment scams among scammed customers 75+ | ~10% |
| Reported cases with no customer loss | 9 in 10 |
How group-chat scams work
ANZ’s Alan Thomsen: "Once people join these group chats, they are typically pressured to invest in what is a scam."
The playbook: a friendly "professor" or "mentor", a chat full of members posting big wins (all fake), a "trading platform" showing paper profits, then fees when you try to withdraw. It’s a stage play where you’re the only audience member who paid.
Red flags
- Investment ads featuring well-known business leaders or commentators
- High or low-risk returns that sound too good to be true
- Pressure to invest fast
- Unregistered promoters
- Offers to recover money you’ve already lost
What to do
- Check the promoter is registered with the Companies Office or FMA (how).
- Contact providers using a number from their official website.
- Get advice from a licensed financial adviser.
- Already invested? Stop paying, call your bank (ANZ: 0800 269 296), report to Police (105).
Related: fake Kiwibank CEO ads, deepfake Luxon ads, fake ANZ Kiwi bonds. A free exposure check shows if your contact details are in breach data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ANZ offer stock market education programmes?
No. ANZ says it does not offer stock trading education.
How can I tell a real ANZ ad?
ANZ says its legitimate ads come from ANZ Aotearoa and carry a verified blue tick.
How common are investment scams for older ANZ customers?
About 20% of cases for scammed customers aged 66–74, second only to cold call scams.