'Whaling' scam harpoons big business fish

  • 10/09/2015
Five New Zealand companies have already told Internal Affairs they've experienced the scam (file)
Five New Zealand companies have already told Internal Affairs they've experienced the scam (file)

New Zealand businesses are being warned about a harmful new email scam that's asking for large money transfers.

Known as whaling – a spin on the existing term 'phishing' – it targets high-level executives, using email addresses similar to employees and other executives, to make it appear as though they're requesting the funds.

Internal Affairs spokesman Peter Merrigan says it's very deceptive.

"People can become unwitting victims of this if they believe the email has come from their manager. They may undertake the request – 'please transfer X amount of money to an offshore bank account'."

Five New Zealand companies have already told Internal Affairs they've experienced the scam.

3 News