She sent him money about six times - supposedly for things like his sister's school fees and his brother's car. He paid it back each time so she thought she could trust him.
Then he said his company was owed money by Asian clients and asked if they could pay it into her account.
"[He said] New Zealand is closer to Asia, it will clear faster."
Phillips said she had no idea the man or his associates had hacked the records of a skincare company called Spark International.
From an email address in her name they sent fake accounts to Spark's customers telling them to make payment into Phillips' bank account. A bogus invoice for $3302.74 was paid.
In May, Phillips went to the bank and withdrew $3000 which she transferred by Western Union to the man's overseas account. The next day she withdrew another $300 which she also sent on.
She said the first she knew the money was stolen was when the police interviewed then arrested her. She made only about $300, she said.
Phillips, who had no previous criminal convictions, accepts she was fairly charged but believes she was duped.
"I believed everything they [scammers] said to me," she said. "They are bloody good at what they do."
She admits she was stupid, but said there were others in Rotorua who had been caught up in similar scams.
"I am not the only stupid person out there," she said. "[There are] people I know of who have been scammed $20,000 or $30,000."
Phillips said she had learned her lesson the hard way and warned others not to be so trusting.
"If you don't know them don't add them [on Facebook]," she said. "You have got to be very careful what you do online."
Detective Sergeant Tony Colby said Rotorua police received complaints on a weekly basis about international scams.
"That indicates these people in overseas countries are still very active."
