The Health Minister has been targeted by a social media scam which has made it appear he has endorsed a nail fungus remedy.
Health Minister Shane Reti said the ads are fake and his office had contacted Facebook to look into the matter.
It comes as celebrity chef Simon Gault was also targeted by online scammers using his image to sell weight loss courses he's not associated with, something he said is "pretty annoying".
In sponsored social media posts, a Facebook page posted an image of Reti and a fake quote attributed to him: "Shane Reti: nail fungus infects the blood and causes necrosis. There is a solution, but it's not for everyone."
It links to a website that is made to appear like a Government website, titled "Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa — New Zealand Government".
It then further "quotes" Reti.
"I guarantee that every person in New Zealand infected with nail fungus will be able to order an anti-fungal medicine 50% off and thus prevent blood poisoning."
The quote is below an image of Dr Reti — a GP before entering politics — which appeared to have been taken from a New Zealand Doctor article.
New Zealand Doctor editor Barbara Fountain confirmed the photo had been taken by one of the publication's reporters.
"This really takes the cake — they might have been better to use a photo of Trump," she said.
The scam article concluded by endorsing a remedy for nail fungus.
There is also a comments section on the web page with numerous positive testimonies to the product, and some that appear to be from Reti himself, endorsing the product and warning people to "beware of imitations".
The bottom of the page claimed copyright to the "Commonwealth of Australia".
Reti was not impressed with the scammers' use of his image and position.
"It is concerning that social media is being used to misrepresent the Government's position on health."
Scammers target TV chef
Chef and entrepreneur Simon Gault took to social media this week expressing his frustration over online scammers using his image to sell a three-week weight loss course.
He urged people to be cautious about such scams, and said it was "not bloody possible" to lose weight sustainably over three weeks.
Gault said his image had been used for other purposes also, such as for dating sites.
"I end up dating people I don't even know, lucky me, right?"
He said scammers were "scumbags" and the "dirt of the earth".
Gault said the scam was not affiliated with his $400 well-being course, which is sold as a "science-based health education course".
He told 1News it made him "really annoyed" because peoples' health was "precious".
"So is their money and all they're trying to do is steal it."
Netsafe: 'Stop, sit back and think'
Netsafe chief online safety officer Sean Lyons said scammers' use of high profile peoples' images was happening "all too commonly", and it was often health-related, but could also be other things.
"They're using a figure who we already trust and they're trying to buy that trust in some way by misrepresenting their product as being represented by that person. We trust that person, why wouldn't we trust their recommendation for the product?"
Lyons said most were overseas scammers and sometimes the products were real but at times there was no product at all.
Some Kiwis were falling victim to the scams he said, although reporting could be on the low side due to the shame associated with feeling fooled.
He urged people to "stop, sit back [and] think" and talk to other people about the ad, or search online for more information about the product.
"If there are any red flags, any markers, anything that doesn't feel right when you're doing this — stop, don't do it, find another way."
He also encouraged people to report scams when they saw them — whether they'd fallen victim to them or not.
Netsafe's guide to scam spotting
According to the Netsafe website, the purpose of most online scams are to trick people out of money or steal personal information.
"Tell-tale signs" of possible scams include:
- Contact that is out of the blue — even if the person claims to be from a legitimate organisation, such as a bank
- Being told there is a problem with your technology, such as your phone, laptop or internet connection. They will often claim they can fix your device.
- Requests for passwords — legitimate organisations will never ask for the passwords to online accounts
- Needing to verify your account or details — Netsafe warns against responding or clicking on any links in the communication even if it looks like it’s from a real organisation
- Trying to get you to move outside of an online trading or booking website or app (like Air BnB) — Netsafe also warns against paying outside of the normal website or app processes
- A website may also offer money or a prize in exchange for something up front — they might say that it’s a “processing” fee or similar
- Being asked for money from friends or partners you've met online. Netsafe says this is a very common tactic — do not pay the money.
- Scammers may employ unusual modes for people to pay for things, like pre-loaded debit cards, gift cards, bitcoins, iTunes cards or money transfer systems
- Asking for remote access to your device — never do this unless you have actively sought out the service they are providing (as opposed to them contacting you)
- Pressuring you to make a quick decision.
More info on scams and how to avoid them can be found on Netsafe's website.
Additional reporting by Jenny Suo
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