An Australian man has been arrested in the United States for supposedly trying to “buy” a six-year-old child for sex.

Melbourne man Michael Quinn allegedly told US law enforcement officers posing as predators online that he was hoping to meet “other pervs” as well as a father “who shares his young ones.”

Unaware that he was speaking to undercover agents, Quinn said he was travelling to Los Angeles later in the month and had suggested to one of the agents that they “molest a child together,” authorities say.

Quinn was arrested at a LA Hotel on Saturday after allegedly paying a fake child trafficker $US250 (around $A350) and expecting to have sex with young boy.

Quinn has been charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

If convicted, the 33-year-old faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life without parole.

He also faces up to 30 years in prison on a charge of travelling with the intent of engaging in illicit sexual conduct.

In a statement, Joseph Macias, a special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigation in Los Angeles warned that predators would be caught.

“Millions of tourists flock to Los Angeles every year for all this city has to offer, but if you’re coming here to sexually exploit children, expect to be met by law enforcement, not a welcome mat,” he said.

“As this case vividly illustrates, the advent of the internet means youth are now vulnerable to exploitation by sexual predators not just around the corner, but around the globe.”

– TiVi Tuan-san