Fake site shut down

A fake Trade Me website set up by internet fraudsters in China has been shut down. The site was a virtual replica of the real site, with scammers even copying the "Kev the blue Kiwi" icon.

Investigators found it was registered to an address in China which ran 251 other websites selling fashion knock-offs.

The site went offline on Wednesday after users noticed it was a copy.

A Trade Me spokesman said the company was concerned about being targeted.

"We've had people attempt to illegally use our trademarks and logos but this latest one is the most blatant we've seen."

The site's contact phone numbers appeared fake and emails were not answered.

Richard Parlett, from the Consumer Affair Ministry's SCAMwatch, said banks are often targeted but this was the first time he had seen a sales website copied from overseas.