SCAM ALERT--Vehicle owners warned of email scam with fake link to transaction site
Is your vehicle rego due? Make sure you are not paying a fake website as authorities warn people of the latest phishing email scam targeting vehicle owners.The NZ Transport Agency has issued an alert to all vehicle owners to keep an eye out for a scam email supposedly from NZTA giving a reminder for a vehicle licence renewal (rego). "While the email appears to be a standard vehicle licensing [rego] renewal reminder - with the NZ Transport Agency logo and links to the online transaction website - it is part of a sophisticated phishing exercise,'' the alert says. People may also be caught off guard due to the email carrying the address "nzta.co.nz" suffix. However, the official NZTA email is "nzta.govt.nz." It is not yet known whether anyone has been affected in the scam. But people who had accidentally clicked into the fake transaction website or entered their bank or credit card details are being told to call their bank immediately and possibly cancel their cards. An NZTA spokesman said they had also alerted police to the situation. Vehicle owners are being told to the details of any email carefully and to check specific details that should come with a genuine email from NZTA. "If the email was genuinely sent from the Transport Agency, it will include your specific vehicle details including your vehicle's plate number, vehicle make, the expiry date of your current vehicle licence. "If your email doesn't include your specific vehicle details, or you think there's anything suspicious or incorrect, don't complete the online renewal transaction the email links you to." Anyone who believes they may have received a fake email or would like to check that theirs is a genuine one from NZTA, is encouraged to contact 0800 108 809.
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Christmas Eve busiest shopping day of the year with more than 500,000 sales
Busiest shopping day of the year
Peak time 12 noon-1 pm - 563,303 transactions
Per second peak - 167 transactions
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Number of sales beats Black Friday, but lowest Christmas Eve in six years
Christmas Eve has been the busiest shopping day of the year with 9,745 sales a minute at its peak.
Payments company Worldline says noon to 1pm saw 563,303 sales recorded on its network, down by about 7 percent on a year ago.
The company's network covers about three-quarters of the electronic terminals in operation.
Worldline did not have a dollar value for spending, but the peak number of transactions was the lowest for the past six years and well shy of the record 679,436 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Earlier this month it noted rising sales in the first three weeks of the month, but they remained 1.3 percent lower than 2024, with most parts of the country trailing the previous year's spending.
Official data from Stats NZ to the end of November showed a small rise in spending on the previous month, to 1.6 percent higher for the year.
Retail spending has been subdued as households have remained cautious because of high prices and a slow benefit from lower interest rates, and as well as concerns about the soft labour market.
However, recent surveys have shown improving consumer sentiment with ANZ bank's monthly report showing confidence at its highest level in four years.
Boxing Day is traditionally the country's favourite shopping day, but with Black Friday spending also softer this year the amount going through retailers' terminals may also be down on a year ago.
Adding a dampener to consumer spending may be the recent rises in longer term fixed mortgage rates because of higher wholesale rates.
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Poll: Is it ok to regift something that you have been given?
🎁 Holiday Gift Chat!
Do you ever regift?
What’s your take on asking for a receipt if a gift doesn’t fit?
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79.1% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.9% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
Exclusive Christmas Sleep Deals - Up to 65% OFF Beds!
Hi neighbours,
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Don’t miss out, give yourself the gift of quality sleep this Christmas!
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