Warrnambool Detective Senior Constable Damian Coutts said two people had now transferred money into Western Union accounts thinking they were buying a bargain-priced caravan.

The latest victims are an elderly Mortlake couple who are now $13,000 out of pocket after agreeing to an email request to pay more than what was originally requested.

A Camperdown couple also lost $13,700 of their savings to the scammer this week.

The advertisement ran for several days in The Standard late last month before being withdrawn after the company realised it was suspicious.

The 2006 Jayco Sterling was advertised for $9650 and included plenty of extra features. Similar second-hand vans sell for about $49,000.

"The advertisement is a sophisticated scam and that under no circumstances are potential buyers to make contact with the relevant contact provided," Detective Senior Constable Coutts said yesterday.

He said both victims had both been through an almost identical scam process. They were not able to contact the seller on the provided phone number so had reverted to emails and then transferred the requested money through Western Union without even inspecting the van.

"It's the old thing about buyer beware," Detective Senior Constable Coutts warned.

"If anyone does get sucked in, unfortunately I think they can kiss their money goodbye."

He said a quick internet search of scams showed the cheap Jayco caravan advertisement had been "doing the rounds" for about six to 10 years, with the offenders likely to be advertising in country newspapers to attract vulnerable buyers.

Police are likely to forward details of the emails and payment records to the Australian Federal Police for further investigation.

The Standard's advertising manager Frank Davidson yesterday sent an email alert out through the Fairfax regional network advising other newspapers to be aware of the advertising scam.