TL;DR: In August 2026, Westpac NZ warned that scammers built fake Facebook complaints pages that reply to people posting publicly about service problems. Posing as Westpac, they offer a quick resolution, collect your name, email and contact details, then contact you about "compensation" and ask for banking or card info. Westpac had the page removed, but expects more to pop up, including for other businesses.
How it works
From MPA (18 August 2026):
- You post publicly that your bank (or any business) let you down.
- A page that looks like Westpac NZ replies: "Sorry to hear that, let’s sort it fast."
- They ask for your full name, email and contact details.
- Later, someone contacts you to "process compensation" and asks for banking or card information, sometimes asking you to call an overseas number.
Venting online is human. Scammers are counting on it. The angrier the post, the faster people accept a helping hand.
What Westpac said
- Peter Barnes, head of customer care operations: some customers "may have been tricked by the fake page."
- "As known sites are shut down, others are likely to pop up."
- Westpac’s financial crime team knows of similar fake pages targeting other businesses.
How to spot a fake complaints page
- Not verified, recently created, or few followers
- Replies within minutes to public posts, asking you to DM details
- Offers compensation before anyone’s looked at your account
- Moves you to email, phone or WhatsApp
- Asks for card details, PINs or passwords
What to do instead
- Complain through the bank’s app, website or published phone number.
- Never share account or card details in reply to an unsolicited offer.
- Westpac never asks for your online banking password or PIN.
- Be suspicious of any request to call an overseas number.
If you shared details
Contact Westpac immediately; early reporting improves recovery chances. Report the page to Facebook and the scam to Netsafe. See how to report a scam in NZ.
A free exposure check shows if your email is in breach data that can help scammers find you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Westpac NZ respond to complaints on Facebook pages?
Westpac warned that fake Facebook complaints pages impersonated it. Complain through official channels instead.
How does the fake complaints page scam work?
It replies to public complaints, collects your contact details, then contacts you about "compensation" and asks for banking or card information.
Will Westpac ask for my PIN or online banking password?
No. Westpac says it will never ask for your online banking password or PIN.