New Zealanders experience fraud, theft via banks: survey

Large numbers of New Zealanders are falling victim to thefts via their bank accounts and cards, according to a Horizon Research Bank Fraud and Cybercrime survey on Tuesday, reported Xinhua.

New Zealanders do not think banks are doing enough to protect them through implementing highly effective anti-fraud and theft measures, according to the survey of 1,039 New Zealand adults nationwide, conducted between Aug. 17 and 24.

"Fraud and theft via bank accounts and cards are running at twice the rate of losses via cybercrime," it said.

In the past 12 months, 13 percent, equivalent to around 512,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and above, have had someone use a bank card, credit card, cheque or other documents without permission to commit fraud or steal from them, the survey showed.

About 10 percent have experienced fraud, theft involving a bank account, and 7 percent have been a victim of cybercrime, it said.

Of those who were victims of fraud, 80 percent lost up to 5,000 NZ dollars (2,959.87 U.S. dollars), and 54 percent lost up to 500 NZ dollars (295.99 U.S. dollars), the survey said, adding only 30 percent of people surveyed think banks in New Zealand are doing enough.