Sydney - A 23-year-old man arrested by the New South Wales state police Friday is part of an international art scam allegedly involving Israeli nationals, officials said Saturday.

A resident on the central coast complained that a man visited him at his home, introduced himself as an Israeli university student and tried to sell counterfeit artwork, an official statement said.

According to the police, the fake artwork is part of a global scam, allegedly involving Israeli nationals, which has been operating in Europe, the US and Australia since
2000.

The paintings, promoted as originals, are said to have been mass produced in China and sold at inflated prices internationally.

The police charged the man from Sydney's eastern suburb of Bondi after 50 large oil paintings were seized from his vehicle. He was released on bail and ordered to appear in court on January 27. (dpa)