New Zealanders have reportedly been caught up in a major international scam where fraudster go ahead and offer fake accommodation, and then they trick victims into sending across bond and rent money.

The scammers involved are targeting flat-finder websites from all across the globe, and once they have successfully established contact with their home-hunting victim via e-mail, they collect money from them and then steal their personal detail to go on and cheat the next victim.

Sometimes, the scammers go as far ahead as actually speaking with the victim over the phone.

Warnings of scam have been sounded by the nz. easyroommate. com website, which has stressed that anyone asking for money via a "Western Union" transfer was "always a scammer" and generally working from an overseas location.

They have advised that people looking for a flat should never send out rental deposits prior to seeing the flat.