Online Scams Code

Working together to protect
New Zealanders online

Tech New Zealand and a number of its members are active participants in the New Zealand Anti-scam Alliance. The Alliance brings together government agencies, banks, telecommunications providers, digital platforms, and consumer groups to coordinate efforts and enhance consumer protection.

Working with our digital platform members we have proactively developed the New Zealand Online Scams Code (NZOSC). Signed by an initial three founding signatories, this voluntary code has 38 commitments which span blocking and takedown and advertiser verification measures.

Tech New Zealand works alongside our members to stop scams

Our members invest heavily in protecting New Zealand consumers from scams through safety-by-design, policies and reporting, consumer education and digital literacy, and proactive detection.

The New Zealand Online Scams Code has been developed by Tech New Zealand and has been signed by Google, Meta and TikTok as initial signatories.

The Code establishes a blueprint for combatting scams in the digital industry and is open to others to adopt as a proactive consumer protection measure. 

The New Zealand Online Scams Code is based on the Australian Online Scams Code bringing New Zealand into alignment with commitments already made in Australia.

How to Report Scams

Accounts

  • Google provides in-product support, generally accessible by clicking on the 3 dots that look like this: ⠇. Those dots often link to the relevant part of Google’s online help centre at https://support.google.com/. For example:
    • Google (including Gmail) account recovery issues are outlined here.
    • Business profile issues are outlined here.
  • Google also enables people to flag content in-product for review against Google’s content policies. This process is again generally accessible by clicking on the 3 dots that look like this: ⠇
  • Anyone can submit a legal removal request via the form that is accessible via g.co/legal. Once someone submits a request through the relevant form, a specialised support team will assess their issue and offer assistance.

Third-party websites

  • If you believe you’ve encountered a page designed to look like another page in an attempt to steal users’ personal information, please complete this form to report the page to the Google Safe Browsing team.

Ads

  • To report a Google Ad, complete the report an ad form.
  • You’ll receive an email confirmation after you’ve submitted the form.
  • Your report will be reviewed, and if appropriate, action will be taken on the ad.

How to report a YouTube video :

  • Open the YouTube app
  • Go to the video that you want to report
  • At the top of the video, tap Settings Report
  • Select the reason that best fits the violation in the video
  • Tap Report
  • Note: To check the status of a video you report, on a computer, visit Report history. Learn more about Report history.

How to report an ad on YouTube:

  1. Click ‘More’ or ‘Info’ on the ad.
  2. Select Report ad.

You can also fill out this form.

For further information on Meta’s policies, tools, educational resources and how to access support, also visit the Meta Anti-Scams Hub.

How to report an ad to Meta when you see it:

  • In your feed, click next to the ad that you want to report.
  • Click Report ad and then follow the on-screen instructions.

How to report an ad to Meta after you see it:

  • Go to the Meta Ad Library. In the Search ads box, enter keywords that are related to the ad or the advertiser name. Then tap the enter key.
  • Scroll to find the ad that you want to report and click next to it.
  • Choose Report ad and then follow the on-screen instructions.

More information at is available at this guide: How to report an ad

How to report a seller scam on Facebook Marketplace:

  • The best way to report content on Facebook is by using the Report link near the content itself.
  • More information on how to report different types of Facebook content at Report something

Facebook Marketplace

How to report content on Facebook:

  • From your Feed, in the left menu, click  Marketplace.
  • In the left menu, click Buying.
  • Click the listing of the seller you want to report as a scam.
  • Click the name of the seller.
  • Click , then click Report seller.
  • Click Scam, then follow the on-screen instructions to submit your report.
  • More information at Facebook Help Centre

How to report a buyer scam on Facebook Marketplace:

  • From your Feed, in the left menu, click Marketplace.
  • Click Your account.
  • Click Your listings.
  • Click a listing that the buyer purchased.
  • Click the message between you and the buyer. If you can’t find the message, click See more.
  • Click, then click Report buyer.
  • Click Scam, then follow the on-screen instructions to submit your report.
  • More information at Facebook Help Centre

How to report a Facebook Marketplace listing as a scam:

  • From your Feed, in the left menu, click Marketplace.
  • Click the listing that you want to report as a scam.
  • Below the listing title, click.
  • Click Report listing, then click Scam.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to submit your report.

More information at Facebook Help Centre

How to report a post:

More information on how to do this for different types on Instagram content at the guide how to report things

How to report a contact on WhatsApp

  • Open the chat with the contact you want to report.
  • Tap the three dots, then ‘More > Report’.
    • Check the box if you would like to also block the user and delete messages in the chat.]
  • Tap Report.
  • More information at How to block a report contacts.

How to report a group on WhatsApp

  • Open the group you want to report.
  • Tap the three dots, then More > Report.
    • Check the box if you would also like to exit the group and delete the chat.
  • Tap Report.

More information at How to block a report contacts.

How to report a TikTok video

  • Go to the video and tap the Share button on the side of the video or press and hold on the video.
  • Tap Report and select a reason. If prompted to select a subtopic, select the appropriate one for your report.
  • Report it under “Frauds and Scams”.
  • Tap Submit.

More information at Report a video.

Download the Code.

This is the latest version of The New Zealand Online Scams Code launched in 2025. The New Zealand Online Scams Code has been signed by Google, Meta and TikTok as the initial signatories, and is open to others to adopt as a proactive consumer protection measure.

Download


Signatories

The New Zealand Online Scams Code has been signed by three major technology companies that are the founding signatories.

The code is open to any company in the digital industry as a blueprint for best practice for how to combat scams online. If you are interested in adopting the code, please contact us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New Zealand Online Scams Code?

The New Zealand Online Scams Code is a proactive industry code aimed at combating scam activity in New Zealand.

Who has signed on to the New Zealand Online Scams Code?

To date, the New Zealand Online Scams Code has been signed by Google, Meta and TikTok, and is open to others in the digital industry to adopt as a proactive consumer protection measure. If you are interested in adopting the code, please contact us at info@thecode.org.nz

What protections are available under the New Zealand Online Scams Code?

The New Zealand Online Scams Code outlines the commitments made by leading technology companies in New Zealand to fight scams, in a holistic response that spans blocking and takedown, advertiser verification measures and increased collaboration across the New Zealand Anti-Scam Alliance. The full commitments under the code can be found in the downloadable PDF available on this page.

Under the New Zealand Online Scams Code, signatories agree to adopt the following measures, as detailed within the code:

— Blocking: Deploy measures to detect and block suspected scams.
— Reporting: Have a simple and quick route for users to report possible scams.
— Takedowns: Take quick action against verified scam content and scammers.
— Advertising: Deploy measures to protect people from scam advertising.
— Email and messaging: Deploy specific measures to protect people from scams in — emails and private messages.
— Law enforcement: Engage with law enforcement efforts to address scams.
— Intelligence sharing: Contribute to public-private and cross-sectoral initiatives to address scams.
— Communications: Provide information about scam risks and support counter-scam efforts.
— Future proofing: Contribute to strategy development and future proofing exercises to stay ahead of the threat.