Bay of Plenty residents are being warned to be on the lookout for a fraudster offering to sell seafood or meat but never showing up with the goods.

Police have issued the warning on their Facebook page saying the man, believed to be a Caucasian around 50-years-old and driving a green and tan coloured Toyota ute, will offer to sell seafood or meat but never comes back once he's given the money.

He will also approach retail assistants saying he is there to collect money owed to him for raffles, meat or seafood.

The accused's scam was last reported in the Waikato region before Bay of Plenty Police issued the above warning.

Waikato Police Senior Sergeant Rupert Friend says the man has more than 250 prior convictions and is continuing to offend.

Rupert says the man usually comes up with a story about a boat coming in from Raglan, often targeting commercial and retail premises.

'Even if they can quote names of people who work at your premises it doesn't mean they are legitimate,” says Rupert.

'We strongly believe there are other victims out there already, and would ask them to report the incident to the nearest police station.”

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously via the Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 line.