Ten people have been charged with fraud and money laundering crimes which allegedly netted more than £300,000 and involved 34 victims.
Crimes were committed across large swathes of the South East including parts of Epsom, Leatherhead and Wimbledon.
The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit today said the charges relate to crimes between October 2013 and April 2014.
Their statement said: "Victims were told their neighbours' property had been flooded with raw sewage originating from under their property, which required specialist equipment to be hired and they needed to pay a returnable deposit."
The suspects were charged as part of Operation Knock.
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