An 80-year-old Sydney woman handed over about $10,000 to a group of men pretending to be tradies for work they claimed to have done on her roof.
Police say the woman was approached on February 3 by three men at her Panania home, in Sydney's southwest, who told her they were roofing tradesmen.
The men showed the woman a photo they said was of her roof, showing it was in dire need of repair.
They then starting working on her roof for about an hour before demanding the woman pay $21,000, police said.
The men drove the woman to a nearby bank where she withdrew around half that amount and paid them.
A 92-year-old woman was targeted in a similar incident at her home in Chester Hill on Monday.
Police on Thursday arrested a 48-year-old man during a search warrant at Blair Athol and charged him with obtaining benefit by deception and detain for advantage.
He's been granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Bankstown Local Court on March 26.
Police say there could be more victims linked with fake tradies.
"No one should be embarrassed if they have become a victim to this group who target the elderly," Superintendent Dave Eardley said in a statement.
"We urge you to call your local police or Crime Stoppers and report the incident. We can help you."
Police are urging people to always ask for identification from individuals claiming they are tradespeople.
