New Zealand's Immigration authorities have raised alarms about a surge in scam phone calls targeting visa holders and migrants. In an advisory released on May 8, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) cautioned that fraudsters are using local mobile numbers to impersonate officials, claiming urgent visa issues to coerce individuals into providing personal information or making payments. The scammers often instruct victims to press a number or speak to an operator, while some have gone as far as demanding money and threatening legal action. Immigration New Zealand emphasized that they will never request payments via phone and urged anyone receiving suspicious calls to refrain from sharing personal details. Victims should report these scams to CERT NZ and can seek assistance from Netsafe. Those concerned about their immigration status after receiving such calls are advised to contact the INZ Service Centre directly to verify their visa details. This warning comes amid a global rise in immigration-related fraud targeting vulnerable groups, including international students and temporary visa holders.