How to report a concern

Are you aware of a company director who has breached their duties?

The Companies Office is responsible for ensuring company directors comply with their statutory obligations. You can send details of possible breaches of the Companies Act 1993, including complaints about company directors, to the Companies Office. This includes:

• if you believe a director has been involved in the mismanagement of a failed company,
• to report a director who has been convicted of a relevant offence under the Companies Act, or
• to report a director or manager who is acting for a company while they're disqualified or prohibited.

Click the link below for more information and to make a complaint.

Are you unhappy with the way a public sector agency, such as a government agency or council, has handled your matter?

You have the right to be treated fairly by the public sector agencies you deal with. This includes by a:

• government agency
• city, district or regional council
• district health board
• tertiary education institution
• school board

If you believe you have not been treated fairly, you can complain to the Ombudsman.

If your complaint relates to how an organisation has handled your information you may wish to complain to the Privacy Commissioner.

If you need help with problems in the workplace, you should contact Employment New Zealand(external link)(external link).

This includes breaches of employment law, such as non-payment of wages.

Are you aware of a migrant worker whose employer is taking advantage of them or treats them unfairly?

Migrant workers are exploited when their employer takes advantage of them or treats them unfairly and it causes harm to the worker. 

The harm can be:

• economic, for example, not being paid the right amount or at all
• social, for example, being isolated from other people
• physical, for example, being forced to work long hours with no breaks
• emotional, for example, being threatened or made to feel afraid.

Migrant workers have the same minimum employment rights as New Zealand workers. If you, or someone you know, is being exploited in the workplace, you can report it to Employment New Zealand. There is further information on the Employment New Zealand(external link)(external link) website at the link below.

If you are in immediate physical danger, call 111 and ask for Police.

If you are planning on getting a visa to come to New Zealand, watch out for people who may scam you to steal your money or sign you up with jobs that are not what they promise.

Immigration New Zealand(external link) has information on scams to watch out for, how to protect yourself from visa fraud, and where to get help if you are concerned.

 Warning signs include being asked to pay for a job, being told someone can guarantee a visa outcome or faster decision, being asked to lie on an application, or being told you do not have the same minimum employment rights as a New Zealander.

Have you had a negative experience with a licensed or unlicensed immigration adviser?

You can complain to the Immigration Advisers Authority(external link) about licensed immigration advisers if you have had an unacceptable experience, or about someone giving New Zealand immigration advice when they are not licensed or exempt.

There is no cost to make a complaint, and making one will not affect your immigration status. Anyone can make a complaint, even if they are not in New Zealand.

A scam is a scheme designed to trick you out of money, personal information, or valuables.

Scammers often use impersonation or false promises, and carry out their scams via phone, email, or social media. Common scams include:

• Pretending to be trusted organisations (banks, courier companies, government agencies) to steal login details, credit card numbers, or personal info.
• Notifying someone that they have won a prize or competition they didn’t enter, then asking for money or personal information to claim the prize.
• Impersonating friends or family.
• Offering fake goods or services for sale.
• Offering fake investment or cryptocurrency opportunities.
• Romance scams.

The SFO does not generally deal with scams.

If you suspect you have been scammed stop all contact with the scammer, do not make any more payments, and contact your bank immediately.

You can also:

• Report it to Police on 105, or report it online on the 105 website(external link).
• Report scams to Netsafe(external link) or 0508 638 723
• Report cybersecurity issues to the National Cyber Security Centre(external link) or 0800 237 869
• Report investment scams to the Financial Markets Authority(external link) 
• Report spam or nuisance texts to DIA by forwarding the message to 7726 for free. 

Do you believe you have been the victim of identity theft?

Identity theft is when someone uses your identity information to pretend to be you.

Information that can be stolen includes your:

• name, date and place of birth
• address and phone number
• ID including passport or driver licence
• bank account numbers
• photos
• email addresses
• social networking details.

If you suspect or know that someone is fraudulently using your identity in any way, use the Department of Internal Affairs’ online checklist to find out what to do next.

Click the link below to be taken to the checklist.

Do you have concerns about how an inheritance or estate has been handled?

Some common inheritance and estate concerns include:

• Receiving less than expected, or being left out entirely, without a clear explanation
• Concerns about changes to a will or doubts about whether the will reflects the person’s true wishes
• Believing information may be incorrect, incomplete, or altered in a way that affects the estate
• Concerns about delays, lack of information, or decisions that do not seem fair or transparent
• Concerns about the actions of an executor, trustee, or lawyer including a belief that they may not be acting independently, carefully, or in the best interests of the estate.

In many cases, concerns like these are best addressed through private legal advice or the civil courts. In the event of criminal wrongdoing, these matters do not usually involve issues of sufficient seriousness or complexity to require the use of our specialist resources, and it is unlikely to be in the public interest for us to investigate.

If you are affected by one of these issues, we recommend seeking independent legal advice as a first step. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and options for resolution.

If you are concerned about the conduct of a lawyer, you can make a report to the Law Society.

Are you aware of someone who is intentionally not paying the correct amount of tax?

Tax crime is when people cheat the tax system through deliberate and dishonest behaviour so they can get some kind of financial benefit. For example, when people:

• claim money they're not entitled to
• claim more business expenses than they really had, so they pay less tax on their income
• do jobs "under the table" for cash and hide some or all of that income
• do not file tax returns when they're supposed to
• do not declare their income at all.

Matters involving tax are assessed by Inland Revenue. If you have information about possible tax crime please contact Inland Revenue.

Click the link below for more information and to make a complaint.

Do you think someone is claiming money from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) that they shouldn’t be, for example a benefit that they are not entitled to?

Most people are honest and are entitled to the benefit assistance they receive. However, for a small group of people this isn't always the case.

Benefit fraud is when someone has intentionally misled MSD to receive money they are not entitled to. Allegations of benefit fraud are investigated by MSD.

If you are concerned that someone may be committing benefit fraud you can make a report to MSD.

Have you made a purchase online, such as on Facebook Marketplace, and not received the goods?

If you think you’ve been the target of a scam you can contact Netsafe for advice and guidance. Netsafe also has advice about how to (external link)distinguish between genuine and scam buyers and sellers.

If you have lost money in a scam contact the Police.

The SFO does not generally deal with this type of fraud.

Do you have concerns about a product or service?

Whether you are buying goods or services in a shop, online, over the phone, or signing up to a consumer loan, you have rights.

Businesses and salespeople must not mislead you about a product or service, including details about the price, quality, features, or any discounts – everything must be accurate and clearly described. Contracts must not contain unfair terms.

It is also illegal for businesses to make anti-competitive agreements with each other, such as agreements to fix prices or agreements not to compete in certain areas or with certain customers.

If you think a business has misled you, breached one of the laws that the Commerce Commission enforce, or you suspect anti-competitive behaviour, you can report a concern to the Commerce Commission(external link).

You also have rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act. You can read about these, including what to do if products fail to meet legal standards, at the Consumer Protection(external link) website.

If you have information about suspected serious or complex fraud, please report it to the SFO.

You can submit your information using the following form. It is important you send us as much information as possible, so we can properly assess the matter and if it is something the SFO will investigate further.

For more information about what happens after you submit a report to the SFO, click here: FAQs: What happens after I make a report to the SFO?

It is not the role of the SFO to recover money lost from fraud. If you have been defrauded and want to get your money back, this is usually handled through the civil courts, not the criminal system. The SFO deals with criminal investigations and charges (although sometimes a court can order reparation under the Sentencing Act 2002). A qualified lawyer can advise on options for recovering losses through a civil claim.

Do you have concerns about an investment you have made?

Investment fraud happens when someone is led to believe they are investing in a genuine opportunity, but the investment is not real or not as described. This can include situations where money is paid or where money is kept when it should be returned. 

Some common types of investment fraud include:

• Ponzi schemes – early investors are paid with money from new investors, not from real profits/gains
• Cryptocurrency or foreign currency schemes – the promoter makes false or exaggerated claims about their skills, experience, or special systems that supposedly guarantee or generate high profits
• Fake investment opportunities – these involve requests to invest in property, shares, or businesses that either do not exist or are falsely described to mislead investors.

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has helpful information(external link) on how to protect yourself from investment scams.

Both the FMA and SFO are interested in receiving reports of investment fraud. Please read through the below to find out which agency is best placed to help you.

For more information about what happens after you submit a report to the SFO, click here: FAQs: What happens after I make a report to the SFO?

If you have information about suspected public sector corruption, please report it to the SFO.

You can submit your information using the following form. It is important you send us as much information as possible, so we can properly assess the matter and if it is something the SFO will investigate further. 

For more information about what happens after you submit a report to the SFO, click here: What happens after I make a report to the SFO (and other FAQs).

If you have information about suspected corruption in business, please report it to the SFO.

You can submit your information using the following form. It is important you send us as much information as possible, so we can properly assess the matter and if it is something the SFO will investigate further. 

For more information about what happens after you submit a report to the SFO, click here: What happens after I make a report to the SFO (and other FAQs).

If you have information about foreign bribery and want to make an anonymous report, you can report foreign bribery anonymously at the link below. For more information on foreign bribery, click here.

The SFO is interested in receiving reports of foreign bribery.

Foreign bribery occurs when a person or business offers, gives, or promises a bribe to any person to influence a foreign public official in relation to the performance of their official duties.

Foreign bribery also occurs when public officials in New Zealand are offered, given or promised bribes by foreign persons. The bribe is intended to obtain or retain business or to gain an unfair business advantage. A bribe can be money or any other thing of value, including lavish hospitality, employment, travel, gifts or other benefits intended to influence decisions or actions.  

Bribery can also take place in the context of private international business transactions where no public officials are involved.