New South Wales police have arrested a 23-year-old man who was allegedly involved in an international art scam.

Police say he tried to sell fake pieces of artwork to at least one person for between $500 and $1,000.

The paintings had been mass produced in China.

Officers investigating the alleged fraud arrested the man at Wamberal on the central coast last night.

They found 50 large oil paintings in his car.

Police say the fake artwork is part of a global fraud scam allegedly involving Israeli nationals, which has been operating in Europe, America and Australia for more than eight years.