Netsafe NZ’s approach to remediation for scam victims, Andrea Leask, Netsafe NZ - Global Anti-Scam Summit Europe 2024

Netsafe NZ’s Approach to Remediation for Scam Victims

Date of recording: 2024-06-24

Event: Global Anti-Scam Summit Europe 2024

Andrea Leask from Netsafe New Zealand presented on their efforts in scam victim support at the Global Anti-Scam Summit Europe 2024 on June 24. Netsafe, a small charity with a team of 30, has been providing a helpline since 1998, focusing on consumer protection through education, awareness campaigns, and legislative lobbying.

Andrea highlighted Netsafe's status as a trusted flagger, allowing them to quickly get scam content removed from major platforms. In 2023, they received 15,000 scam reports with losses around $1 million USD. The most common scams included online shopping, fake investments, and romance scams.

Andrea introduced three key initiatives: Rescam, Netsafe AI Assistant, and their sextortion response. Rescam, an AI chatbot that imitates victims to waste scammers' time, was relaunched with ChatGPT technology in 2024. The Netsafe AI Assistant is a prototype that helps users verify the legitimacy of sites, emails, and images, providing advice based on Netsafe's database. Their sextortion response offers to contact offenders with the victim's consent, explaining the legal implications. This approach is particularly effective with local offenders motivated by revenge or bullying.

Andrea emphasized that combating scams requires collaboration among all stakeholders, including major platforms like Google and Meta. AI, while a tool for scammers, is also crucial for developing smarter countermeasures. Netsafe is committed to fighting scams through innovative tools and community collaboration, highlighting the need for a multifaceted approach to effectively protect consumers.

During the Q&A session, Anna Martin from the European Consumer Organization stressed the need for systemic players like Meta and Google to take more action under the Digital Services Act, rather than placing the responsibility solely on individual consumers. Andrea agreed on the shared responsibility and highlighted Netsafe's dual focus on prevention and victim remediation, stressing the importance of collective efforts in the ecosystem.

Jun 24, 2024

2 minute read

More than one in five adults in Japan encountered scams in the past year

New State of Scams Japan 2026 report examines how scams are reaching consumers and where stronger prevention and collaboration can make a difference

Research Scam Trends Topic - Fraud Research Region - Asia-Pacific

GASA Europe Chapter Sets Priorities for Tackling Scams Across the Region

GASA Brings Stakeholders Together in Brussels for First Europe Chapter Meeting

GASA Europe brings 50+ stakeholders together in Brussels to discuss scam trends, data sharing and cross-sector priorities.

Research News Industry - National Cyber Security Centers (NCSCs) Region - Europe

Research Working Group Meeting: Fraudulent Tickets and Robocall Scam Tactics

Research presented to GASA examines consumers’ ability to spot fraudulent tickets and tactics found across 4.49 million scam and spam robocalls.

Topic - Fraud Prevention Region - Global Video Presentations

Fighting Fraud Without Borders: Cross-Regional Collaboration in LATAM and Beyond

Fighting Fraud Without Borders: Cross-Regional Collaboration in Latin America and Beyond

A roundtable at GASS America examined cross-regional collaboration in Latin America and beyond, focusing on fraud prevention, consumer protection and response.

News Topic - Data Sharing Topic - Scam Awareness Topic - Fraud Policy

GASA Mexico and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hold Working Meeting on Fraud and Cybersecurity

GASA Mexico and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hold Working Meeting Ahead of the Chapter’s Annual Forum, “From Coalition to Action”

GASA Mexico and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened Mastercard and Scotiabank to discuss fraud, cybersecurity, information sharing and emerging technologies.

News Topic - Data Sharing Topic - Scam Awareness Topic - Fraud Policy

GASA Mexico Brings Journalists Together to Strengthen Digital Scam Prevention

GASA Mexico Workshop Examines the Role of Journalism in Digital Scam Prevention

GASA Mexico brought together journalists and editors to discuss digital scams, victim-centred reporting and the role of media in scam prevention.

News Best Practices Topic - Data Sharing Topic - Scam Awareness

Brazil Anti-Scam Forum 2026: Key Takeaways on Strengthening Scam Prevention in Brazil

Key insights from the Brazil Anti-Scam Forum 2026 on scam trends, prevention, intelligence sharing and cross-sector collaboration.

Best Practices Industry - Telecom Operators / Hosts Topic - Fraud Prevention Topic - Data Sharing

Consumer Education Working Group's 5-Step Scam Response Plan

GASA Consumer Education Working Group Develops 5-Step Response Plan for Scam Victims

GASA’s Consumer Education Working Group sets out a five-step response plan that organisations can use and share to support people affected by scams.

Best Practices Industry - National Cyber Security Centers (NCSCs) Topic - Scam Reporting Topic - Scam Awareness

Netsafe NZ’s approach to remediation for scam victims, Andrea Leask, Netsafe NZ - Global Anti-Scam Summit Europe 2024