The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating a new scam, which has cost one woman in New South Wales almost $4,000.
Thalia E-Wanu, 18, transferred the money to who she thought was a landlord, so he could secure a room in Sydney she had seen advertised on the Internet.
The woman posing as the Landlord then disappeared.
Fair trading minister Linda Burney said there were a couple of things renters could do to protect themselves from the scam.
"Make sure the documentation you are being shown is actually legitimate documentation, its a proper lease, its a proper agreement," she said.