An Auckland couple has been arrested after cafes in three Coromandel towns reported being swindled out of cash by a woman claiming she had suffered food poisoning.

A Whitianga cafe owner called police on Saturday, reporting that a woman had attempted to obtain money by falsely claiming she had become sick after an earlier visit.

That followed similar reports from cafes in Thames on Friday, Thames Senior Sergeant Graham Shields said.

Some businesses paid her a refund in cash but by the time they realised they had been cheated and called police the woman had left town.

An Auckland woman, aged 26, has been arrested and will appear in Thames District Court next week charged with fraud offences. An Auckland man, aged 30, has been charged with assisting her and will appear in court at the same time.

Snr Sgt Shields said police were aware that the couple had travelled to Thames, Whangamata and Whitianga and wanted to hear from any cafe owners who might have been targeted elsewhere.