Singapore - A sweet-talking swindler who conned 50 elderly women into giving him their jewellery has been arrested, news reports said.

The 53-year-old was reported to have collected more than 50,000 Singapore dollars (36,764 US dollars).

He would approach his victims and claim to have been a former neighbour, The Straits Times said. He would then persuade the women to part with their valuables by promising to exchange them for ones of more value.

The women never saw him or their baubles again.

The Singaporean, whose name was not released, was trying the same trick when he was stopped by police.

If convicted of cheating, he could face up to 10 years in prison. (dpa)