Online auction site Trade Me is warning users that a scam email is being sent to recent bidders.

The scam is designed to solicit money from Trade Me users under the pretence of a ‘fixed price offer' on an item that the user has recently bid on or asked a question about.

Trade Me has sent out an email warning to users detailing the scam and its methods.

“The offenders guess someone's email address and contact them regarding an item they have recently bid on or asked a question about,”says Trade Me.

“They pretend to offer the item for sale, request payment and may suggest completing the sale via SafeTrader.

“You're at risk of receiving this email because the first part of your email address matches your user name (e.g. user name 'Tom', email address tom@hotmail.com), and therefore it is easier to guess your email address.

Trade Me suggests the following to keep buyers safe:

Never pay by Western Union, Money Gram or any other instant payment method
Check the email matches the information on your 'My Trade Me'page (i.e. the item is listed under 'Items I Won')
If you wish to complete a transaction via SafeTrader, create a membership and follow the instructions
Change your email address on Trade Me so it is different from your user name