A scam targeting tradespeople and their customers has robbed two people of close to $20,000.
Hackers are targeting builders because they are likely to send bills for large, one-off payments, Consumer NZ said. Photo: 123RF
Consumer New Zealand is warning people about hackers who are getting access to builders' email accounts and altering bank account numbers on invoices before they go out to their clients.
The organisation said the clients do not find out until the builders come back and ask for payment, which has already been diverted to the scammers.
It is aware of at least two cases where this has happened - one woman lost $14,000 while the other had $6000 stolen.
Consumer NZ chief executive Sue Chetwin said hackers are targeting builders because they are likely to send bills for large, one-off payments.
