Revealed: Phone scammers using PM Jacinda Ardern's name as bait

The Prime Minister's Office has confirmed it's looking into a phone scam that uses the names of Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters to lure victims. 

The scammer promises $6000 - but only after $500 is sent through personal bank accounts to China.

They claim to be working for the 'New Zealand Grant', and tell victims the offer of money is coming specifically from Ms Ardern and Mr Peters.

Newshub understands it is the same group behind a similar scam last year that used former Prime Minister Bill English's name as bait.

A woman, who does not want to be named out of fear she will continue to be harassed, says she was shocked to receive the call.

The caller knew her name, number and other personal details, she said.

"That's the other issue I still don't have an answer to - they have so much information about the people they [are] talking to," she told Newshub.

Alarm bells rang for the woman because she had been the victim of a scam before, but she is fearful others might not be so lucky.

"I feel angry because their victims, the people they take the money from, [are] elderly people."

A spokesperson for Jacinda Ardern told Newshub it was "sad" someone from outside the Prime Minister's office was using her identity as part of a scam.

The Government, or a representative of the Prime Minister, would never call someone asking for money or bank account details, they said.

Police were not able to confirm whether they had been made aware of this specific scheme, but a spokesperson said they regularly receive reports of various scams that are running.

They said people should report any suspicious calls to police or their bank if accounts have been compromised.

Newshub.