An alleged middle-aged "catfish" who, police say, posed online as a woman so as to lure other men to a Port Melbourne property, will face court charged with several sexual offences.
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Detectives have been told the man allegedly contacted men via online classified websites including Locanto and Craig's List claiming to be a woman, a police spokeswoman said.
She said three victims then attended a Pickles Street property, believing they were meeting a woman.
Police said a 40-year-old Port Melbourne man was charged on Tuesday with two counts of rape, an attempted rape, living on the earnings of a sex worker, sex work without a licence and possessing a drug of dependence.
"The series of incidents is believed to date back to March 2016 and the investigation remains ongoing," the spokeswoman said.
The man has been released on bail to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Catfishing is a troubling phenomenon where people create a fictitious online persona as a means of luring someone into a sexual encounter.
Locanto is an international classifieds site, which allows people to post free advertising for items such as used furniture, jobs, cars or real estate.
A "personal" section on the website has categories including "friendship", "casual encounters" and "personal services".
Craigslist is also a free international classifieds site, which is community moderated.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
