The scammers are also renting them properties and rooms that do not exist.
Warnings have been issued after reports of incidents increased as seasonal workers and travellers hunt on social media, particularly in Facebook groups or on Facebook Marketplace, for cheap accommodation in the Southern Lakes area.
Recruitment specialist Sarah Millwater recently alerted members of the Wānaka Seasonal Accommodation and Work Forum Facebook page about reports of individuals being dishonest and even disappearing with renters’ bonds.
Ms Millwater said she knew of cases where people thought they had been renting from a landlord only to find out they were subletting.
She had also been told scammers were "asking for a bond and not giving the bond back".
Most people found work in the area before finding a place to live, which made the house hunt more urgent.
With a housing crisis in play as well, renters were "more likely not to check" and forgo formal agreements, she said.
She urged anyone looking for accommodation on social media to speak directly to the owner of the property and ensure they had a written agreement.
Queenstown and the broader Queenstown Lakes District were also experiencing an increase in accommodation scams.
Queenstown Citizens Advice Bureau manager Tracy Pool said she had seen at least one case every three to four months for the last few years.
In some cases not only did the person renting the property disappear with the bond, but the tenant would arrive to find the worst-case scenario.
"They’ve paid the deposit, hearing that it’s really desperate in Queenstown ... and then realise when they land that actually either it doesn’t exist or it’s already rented."
There was not much that could be done in cases like those if the people renting did not have a renters’ agreement, she said.
Even if they had a subletting or flatmate agreement they did not have as many rights as someone renting directly from the landlord.
The best way to be safe when arranging online to rent was to do a search of the person renting the property out and try to rent from the owner rather than subletting, she said.
Wānaka property management company Home & Co director Colleen Topping echoed the need for vigilance.
They had a tenant in Queenstown who sublet the property to a group of flatmates only to disappear not long after.
"He rented to flatmates, and then did a runner with their bond."
Unfortunately the flatmates were not the company’s tenants, so they were unable to help them, she said.
Wānaka Police Senior Sergent Fiona Roberts last week issued a general warning to the community about online scams, particularly around buying anything on Facebook Marketplace.
"Most sellers are genuine, however there are some people who use Marketplace to target people.
"If you are buying something sight unseen, you are taking a risk."
By Rawan Saadi
