MALLEE residents are being warned to be cautious of fake tradies, following a 200 per cent increase in the total amount of money lost by victims.

Almost $3 million was lost by Victorians last year, up from $1 million the previous year.

Margaret Connell is just one of the hundreds of Victorians who lost money when she was scammed out of more than $10,000 after she engaged the services of individu...