The internet safety organisation Netsafe says levels of cyber crime continue to rise, and more than $500,000 in losses as a result of online scams and fraud was recorded last month.
Netsafe says people fell victim to inheritance and car-buying scams or having their email, social networking and online bank accounts compromised.
Executive director Martin Cocker says with just over $541,000 in losses reported, it appears cyber criminals are making good money for relatively little effort.
He says of the 650 incidents reported last month, one in four was referred to his organisation by police.
The officer in charge of the Police National Cyber Crime Centre has joined the Netsafe board, to help strengthen its work.
