eBay users are being warned by police to take extra care following the conviction of a Romanian couple who cheated people out of £255,000.
Around £1billion a year is lost in high-tech fraud each year, with scams on the intenet auction site making up the bulk of the figure, according to Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Mawer of the Metropolitan Police economic crime unit.
Over a two-year period, Nicolae Cretanu, 30, and his wife, Adriana, who were convicted last week at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court, offered non-existent goods for sale on eBay.
Customers who tried to buy the fictitious goods were contacted and told their bid had been unsuccessful.
They were then offered a chance to buy similar goods outside the eBay system via money transfer.
Around 3,000 people fell for the scam, some losing up to £5,000.
The eBay site, which said it has already advised customers against using money transfers, is taking steps to tighten security with police and expert help.
eBay.co.uk said in a statement: “These criminals used the site to gather information and initially to contact their victims.
“They carried out the fraud separately and beyond the protected environment we provide.”

Posted: 11|4|05 at 9:15 am. Filed under: UK News.