Rugby is being targetted by a scam involving fake contracts with Japanese clubs.
New Zealand rugby bosses have spoken out in an effort to tame the tricksters.
The Rugby Players Association and New Zealand Rugby have issued an "agent scam notification" and warned players to be particularly careful if approached by "unknown" agents.
They say an agent claiming to represent a well-known Japanese club approached the coach of an Australian club expressing interest in a star player.
The draft contract required a deposit of several thousand dollars "to reserve his contract spot".
The Australians ran the deal past a sports agent who noticed it was not a standard contract. The Japanese club then confirmed it had no knowledge of the offer.
"Rugby is not immune to scam artists and tricksters who can easily adapt a common ruse to the fit the rugby landscape," the NZRPA stated in the warning.
"The story acts as a timely reminder that there are some unscrupulous people in the world."
The Japanese club is investigating in an effort to track down the purported agent.
The NZRPA and NZR said they would assist any players suspicious of an offer, and pointed out RPA had a list of accredited and provisional agents.