A Queenstown woman has been scammed out of $500 after thinking she was buying a dog from African fraud hotspot Cameroon.

Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Watt, of Queenstown, said the woman responded to a post on a Queenstown buy and sell group via social media advertising an English bulldog.

The victim contacted the seller and paid the $500, which was followed by a string of unusual emails.

Emails seen by the Otago Daily Times were addressed to "Dear Client'' requesting payment a $259 payment for freight, $600 for a freight cage and $1500 for insurance.

The woman did not pay the amounts requested. However, she did pay for the dog which never arrived from Cameroon, widely known for online fraud.

English bulldogs can cost from $3000 in New Zealand.

Acting Snr Sgt Watt said the buy and sell group was seen as a "relatively safe place" for Queentowner's to buy and sell items locally, but they should be aware that scams exist.

The woman reported the scam on April 27, but police were unable to say when the payment and emails took place.