Overseas scammers are targeting New Zealanders with fake offers of free cash from a "John Key Scheme".
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MCA) said victims of the scam receive an overseas call from someone claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Department in Wellington.
Victims are told they have been chosen to receive money from a 'John Key scheme' and asked to send $149 via Western Union to claim their "fund".
They are then instructed to go online to download software, the MCA said.
"The software launches malicious software onto their computer. This gives scammers remote access to the victim's computer files."
