Trade Me fraudster jailed

An Auckland man has been sent to prison for almost three years for a sophisticated internet fraud.

Mark Hayes, 19, was sentenced in Auckland District Court today to two years and 11 months in prison for a complex crime that targeted consumers, banks and auction website Trade Me's members.

He hacked into the bank accounts of the website's users.

He had pleaded guilty to multiple counts of fraud and accessing a computer for dishonest purposes.

He challenged the charges for almost a year but changed his plea to guilty the day before the trial was due to begin.

Trade Me's fraud team began an investigation in January last year following a number of suspicious trades over the Christmas/New Year period.

"Fraudsters leave deep footprints on Trade Me and we're committed to prosecuting them with the full vigour of the law," said Trade Me regulatory manager Michael O'Donnell.

"The police did a great job in apprehending the offender, piecing together a complex crime and bringing him to justice. We were particularly impressed with their ability to get on top of a fairly sophisticated e-fraud very quickly."

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB