Media statements

Social media scam impersonating NZ Super Fund Co‑Chief Investment Officer Will Goodwin

POSTED ON: 16 October 2025

We’re very concerned that fake Facebook and WhatsApp scam accounts have been using the name and image of our Co-Chief Investment Officer, Will Goodwin, to promote ‘pump and dump’ investment scams. Our sincere appreciation goes out to the Financial Markets Authority for identifying the fake accounts and liaising with the platforms concerned to get them taken down.

The accounts identified are engaging in price manipulation tactics. They impersonate prominent individuals to attract victims into group chats, where investments in listed companies are promoted. This temporarily increases the company's share price, after which the scammers sell their own holdings, resulting in financial losses for other investors when the value drops.

The NZ Super Fund does not offer investments to individuals and will never advertise investments on social media.

If you see a social media post of this nature claiming to represent the NZ Super Fund or one of our employees, please treat it as suspicious and report it to the social media platform concerned, to us and the Financial Markets Authority via https://www.fma.govt.nz/scams/report-a-scam/. Do not click or share personal information.

The FMA provides advice on what to do if you think you have been scammed:

Stop all contact with the scammer and do not send any money.
Block the scammer on all devices.
Contact your bank immediately. Ask if a transaction reversal is possible. If you sent money using another payment service provider, ask them to trace the funds.
Report any fake Facebook/Instagram ads or WhatsApp groups to Meta.
Report the scam to the FMA.
If you are getting spam emails and text messages, report these to the Department of Internal Affairs.
Tell a trusted relative or friend what has happened. They may help you see the situation more clearly, help you deal with the scammers, and suggest what to do next.
Contact Victim Support on 0800 842 846 or visit their website. They can provide free emotional and practical support and information.