Hay bale scam a new low: police

A Sydney man has pocketed at least $30,000 using a hay bale scam targeting drought-stricken farmers in rural NSW, police say.

The 27-year-old allegedly advertised lucerne hay bales on social media for a discounted price and took a deposit, but then failed to deliver the fodder as promised.

Police said they were aware of at least nine victims who had lost at least $30,000 combined.

NSW Police Detective Inspector Cameron Waterside said the allegations "hit a new level of low".

"Whilst the person has been arrested, the investigation is very much ongoing," he told reporters on Thursday.

"Please don't be embarrassed by the fact you may have parted with money or fell to this scam because the reasons scams work is because they generally appear real."

Victims were reported across NSW including on the Mid-North Coast, the Hunter, the Southern Highlands, Oxley, Nepean and Port Stephens regions.

At least one victim was also in Queensland.

The 27-year-old alleged scammer was arrested in western Sydney on Thursday morning and is scheduled to appear in Fairfield Local Court on Friday.