We’ve seen a noticeable increase in email phishing scams where fraudsters impersonate investors and attempt to contact our Investment Team.
Our team is on high alert and working closely with our technology partners to monitor and respond to these threats.
Be aware of scam phone calls claiming to be from First Mortgage Trust or other trusted organisations.
These calls may come from 0800 numbers, local, private, or international numbers, and typically request:
– Account details
– Passwords
Please remember:
– We will never ask you for any PIN number or passwords over the phone or email.
– To help protect you from fraud, any time bank account details are changed, we require you to verify the account name by providing a bank statement showing both the account name and number. This ensures the new details are accurate and belong to you.
– We always follow secure processes to verify your identity.
– If you’re ever unsure about a call, hang up immediately and phone us back on 0800 321 113.
Scammers are sending emails and text messages that appear legitimate, often containing links that lead to fake websites or forms. These are designed to capture personal or banking information. Never click suspicious links and always verify the sender before responding.
We are also aware of more sophisticated scams where fraudsters invite individuals to Zoom meetings. During these sessions, the fraudster installs Remote Access Tools (RATs) that secretly monitor online activity, allowing them to access sensitive information.
We understand how unsettling and concerning these scams can be and we want to reassure you that we take these very seriously and are taking extra precautions to protect our investors.
A strong password includes upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid reusing passwords. Consider a password manager to generate and store them securely.
Banks and companies (like FMT) will never ask for passwords via email, phone, or text. If you get a request like this, delete the email or hang up immediately.
This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification (like a code sent to your phone) to log in.
Install updates for your operating system, apps, and antivirus software. Updates fix security gaps and reduce vulnerabilities. Turn on automatic updates if available.
Check out our previous article Strengthening Cybersecurity – strategies to safeguard your digital presence – First Mortgage Trust
Online safety is a shared responsibility. By staying vigilant and following these steps, you’ll make it much harder for cybercriminals to target you.
If you need help or suspect a scam, or you’re unsure about any of the tips above, we encourage you to reach out to CERT NZ or Netsafe.
Complete this questionnaire to see what type of fund might be the most tax effective for your circumstances. Please note, this is just a guide and we recommend you seek professional tax advice.
Disclaimer – This tool is intended to provide general guidance only. This tool does not take into account your particular financial situation, objectives or goals.
There are alternative strategies which may provide better outcomes, we recommend you seek independent advice before making any investment decision. If you have completed this guide and wish to discuss this, we recommend you seek professional tax advice.