A man's been charged following alleged fraud charges and an assault in the city.

A 34-year-old Cairns man was arrested and charged last night following a string of allegedly fraudulent credit card purchases in the Cairns CBD.

The incidents unfolded after a man had his credit card and a small sum of cash stolen from his unlocked vehicle in Lake Street at around 5pm yesterday.

He was unaware of the theft until around 8.40 last night, when he received notifications from his bank that his credit card had been used several times in the CBD. The man then attended the CBD and located another man attempting to use his card at an Abbott Street business.

He contacted police and followed the alleged offender in Shields Street just after 9pm. Police arrived shortly after and the male was taken into custody.

It is further alleged that as he was being arrested he lunged at the victim and punched him to the shoulder. He was not injured as a result of the action.

Subsequent inquiries revealed the 34-year-old Cairns man was a person of interest in numerous similar reports.

He was charged with a total of 33 offences including 27 counts of fraud, three counts of stealing mail, and single counts of entering premises and stealing, receiving tainted property and common assault.

The charges relate to offences allegedly committed at Cairns City, Cairns North, Manunda, Earlville and Woree between June 28 last year and last night.

The man is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court later this morning.