10 May 2023
The New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO) has been made aware of recent phone calls and/or emails potentially attempting to deceive individuals by impersonating the NZAO. The calls and emails purport to be from the association, however in some cases the organisation name provided is the 'New Zealand Optometric Association', which is not affiliated with the NZAO in any way.
In some cases, the calls or email content solicit recipients to evaluate the service they are receiving from their current optometrist. Please be advised that is not been sanctioned and has not originated from the NZAO.
Here are key points to remember:
-
The NZAO does not send unsolicited emails or make cold calls requesting personal information or asking recipients to assess the service of individual optometrists. If you receive such calls or emails, it is not from us.
-
For phones calls, do not provide any personal information. You are welcome to contact us to verify the legitimacy of any calls you receive.
-
For emails, do not click on any links, download any attachments, or reply to the email. This may expose your device to malicious software and compromise your personal information.
-
Report scam emails. If possible, please forward the email to us and report it to CERT NZ, then delete it. Do not forward it to anyone else.
-
Stay informed about phishing scams. Phishing scams often use the names of legitimate organisations to trick people into revealing sensitive information. Be wary of any calls or emails that ask for personal information or direct you to a webpage asking for personal information.
-
Be safe, be vigilant, and remember that when in doubt, it is always best to check with us for verification.
We regret any confusion or inconvenience that this may cause members of the public.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
New Zealand Association of Optometrists (NZAO)