Police investigate claims fraudster conned TradeMe users

Police are investigating claims internet auction users have been conned by a seller on the TradeMe website.

An Auckland male had been identified as the alleged offender and it was likely a charge of obtaining goods by deception would follow, Sergeant Shane Miles of Nelson police said.

A complaint made by Nelson boy Cain Duff has been referred to Auckland with other complaints from around the country relating to the alleged fraudster.

Cain Duff saved $445 for an Apple Ipod he never received after depositing money into an internet seller's bank account using TradeMe on April 4.

He reported the fraudulent seller to Nelson police with the help of Scambusters, a national volunteer network which aims to find internet frauds.

Scambusters Nelson representative Karen De Bruijn said she told other internet auction users about Cain's story on an online message board and they had banded together to save money for a new Ipod.

Ms Bruijn said $472 had been raised by about 15 traders, with one person donating $200.

A replacement Ipod was $520 and would be purchased for Cain on Saturday.

Cain said he thought it was wonderful people were so kind.

If the fraudulent seller was located and forced to pay reparation through the courts, the money raised would be donated to the Child Cancer Foundation, he said.

Cain's mother, Moira Duff, said she was extremely grateful to the TradeMe members and to Scambusters for their help.

- nzpa