RESIDENTS looking to hire a fence or home improvement professional are warned to be aware of the possible presence in the Tweed of a man who promises the world but delivers little more than a token effort.

NSW Commissioner for Fair Trading, Rod Stowe, has issued a warning to all residents of NSW and South East Queensland not to deal with a construction industry worker Matthew Rixon, who they have dubbed a con artist.

Until recently Mr Rixon operated in the Newcastle and Canberra areas however, the modus operandi of these conmen is that they move from area to area to make detection and apprehension by authorities more difficult.

Fair Trading spokesman Robert Vellar said Mr Rixon could possibly move to this area as he is less well known here and because the vicinity to the Queensland border could make the work of authorities more difficult, making the Tweed an attractive destination.

Mr Vellar said media in Newcastle and Canberra had put a spotlight on Mr Rixon's illegal behaviour and it was likely he had moved on from there.

"Our broader experience with these conmen is that they move from area to area to evade authorities.

"This is very much a trait of these tricksters," Mr Vellar said.

Mr Rixon had received his first infringement notice in November 2010, however, although he'd managed to accumulate $19,000 in fines, he continued to make false promises and collect significant amounts of money for work he never did or performed to an unacceptably low standard.

Commissioner Rod Stowe said Mr Rixon entered into a contract to undertake residential building work, that was the supply and installation of fencing and decking on their property, however, after the payment of a significant amount of the contract price, he failed to complete the work, or, if any work was undertaken, it was defective.

Spokesman Mr Vellar said fresh matters were being pursued and were close to being finalised.

Mr Rixon's days of receiving fines for his actions were in the past and future complaints would put him in front of a court.

Consumers who had dealings with Mr Rixon were urged to contact their local Fair Trading office, NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or lodge a complaint online at fairtrading.nsw.gov.au.

Customers were warned Mr Rixon operated using a variety of company names including Rixco Fencing Pty Ltd, Rixco Group Pty Ltd, Rixco Constructions Pty Ltd, Deck A Day Pty Ltd and Quality Building Solutions Pty Ltd.

Mr Rixon was also known to have traded under the business names Affordable Fencing Solutions Pty Ltd and Affordable Home Improvements & Maintenance Services as well as under the alias Matt Geoffrey.

Neither Mr Rixon nor his companies held a Fair Trading contractor licence which would legally entitle him to carry out residential building work.

He also failed to provide home warranty insurance and demanded excessive deposits.